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Wash cat bites and scratches well with soap and running water. Do not allow cats to lick your wounds. Contact your doctor if you develop any symptoms of cat scratch disease or infection.
Should I be worried my cat scratched me?
If a cat bite breaks your skin, you should seek medical attention if: you start having any serious symptoms of an infection, such as fever, chills, pus or fluid oozing from the wound, or swollen lymph nodes. the wound won’t stop bleeding. the wound appears to be deep or large.
How do you treat a cat scratch?
First, you want to try to flush out as much bacteria as possible and then irrigate the wound with water. Next, wash the wound with mild soap and water. Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth and apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream if you have it. Then, wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
Do cat scratches need treatment?
Minor cat scratches usually can be treated at home, but certain wounds may require special care and attention. Like many animal doctors, Los Angeles-based holistic veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney has dealt with his share of aggressive cats and is well acquainted with the damage they can cause with a swipe of the paw.
Do I need a tetanus shot for a cat scratch?
If possible, keep the wound higher than the level of the heart. This will help to lessen the pain and swelling. You may need a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the last 5 to 10 years. You may also need to take antibiotic (an-ti-bi-ah-tik) medicine to help keep the wound from getting infected.
Can you get infected from cat scratch?
Cat-scratch disease is an infection you can get after a cat scratches, bites, or licks you. It is caused by bacteria in cat saliva. Cats likely get the bacteria from fleas. Cat-scratch disease is also called cat-scratch fever.
Can a cat scratch cause rabies?
While you get infected with rabies when bitten by an infected dog or cat, it can be just as fatal when a rabid dog or cat with saliva-infested nails—say, one that has been licking its paws— scratches a human. Although it is highly unlikely to contract rabies from a scratch, it can still happen.
How long does cat scratch disease take to heal?
Antibiotics may be used to speed recovery in cases of acute or severe illness but most people do not require treatment. Recovery occurs spontaneously within 2 to 4 months.
Do all cats carry cat scratch disease?
However, all cats can carry feline bartonella, so if someone who lives in your home has a sensitive immune system, they should be cautious around possibly infected cats.
What does it mean when a cat scratch itches?
A cat which is frequently or aggressively scratching, itching or grooming themselves is likely to be suffering from something which they cannot get rid of easily. If your cat has a parasitic infection or a reaction to a parasite, it’s likely they will begin to scratch themselves frequently.
Do all cat scratches need antibiotics?
Most cases of cat-scratch disease are self-limited and do not require antibiotic treatment. If an antibiotic is chosen, azithromycin has been shown in one small study to speed recovery.
Can you get rabies from a scratch?
People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, but rare, for people to get rabies from non-bite exposures, which can include scratches, abrasions, or open wounds that are exposed to saliva or other potentially infectious material from a rabid animal.
Should I clean a cat scratch with alcohol?
“Do not clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, or alcohol.” The wound may be bandaged to protect it from further contamination, or to prevent your cat from excessively licking it. Daily bandage changes, as demonstrated by your veterinarian, may be required if there is a lot of discharge from the wound.
Do you need anti rabies after cat scratch?
Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (PEP) is compulsory if you are bitten by a dog, cat or other animal that is rabid or is suspected to be infected with rabies. PEP is required under following conditions: If the bite has broken the skin and the wound is bleeding.
What antibiotic is used for cat scratch?
Generally, cat-scratch disease is not serious. Medical treatment may not be needed. In some cases, treatment with antibiotics such as azithromycin can be helpful. Other antibiotics may be used, including clarithromycin, rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin.
Do cats have rabies in their claws?
Some cats get germs under their claws that can cause “cat scratch fever” and other illnesses, including rabies, tetanus, ringworm or other bacterial infections. Once your wound has been addressed, take your cat to the vet.
Is it normal for cat scratches to swell?
The first sign of a cat scratch infection is a blister or a small bump several days after the scratch or bite. It may look like a bug bite. Within a couple of weeks of a scratch or bite, one or more lymph nodes close to this area will swell and become tender.
What is cat scratch fever in humans?
What Is Cat-Scratch Fever? Cat-scratch fever is an infection caused by a kind of bacteria called Bartonella henselae (it’s also sometimes called Bartonella henselae infection). You can get it if a cat that has this type of bacteria licks an open wound on your skin or bites or scratches you.
