Scratched by a playful dog

Sevorak

I might be overly cautious here, but wanted to get some input. I was walking to lunch today and happened to run into a chihuahua puppy that had gotten off leash with his owner nearby coming after him. The dog was very friendly and came up to me, so I bent down to say hi and give his owner a chance to catch up. It was very excited and playfully mouthed my hand as puppies do, but I didn't think it broke skin at the time. About five minutes later after I had left the owner and the dog I noticed a bit of blood on my thumb and that the dog had very lightly scratched me with his teeth, only about a millimeter long at most. I didn't get the owner's or dog's information since I didn't notice I was cut until I had left. I've washed and disinfected the cut, but should I be worried about any sort of infection or head to the doctor? This was in the SF bay area for reference.

Enc

For a scratch you are preeeety unlikely to get an infection, especially if you cleaned it. Keep an eye on it and if it looks infected or inflamed in a day or so then have a clinic take a look.

Mulletude

No, you don't need to go to a doctor for millimeter long scratch.

I mean, unless you go swimming in sewage on the regular or something.

Invisible

No.
Unless you just really want to get a series of painful shots for the practically nonexistent chance a healthy, domesticated chihuahua with an owner has rabies and transferred it with a minor scratch.
And really, if you didn't notice it for five minutes later, maybe it wasn't even the dog?

Creagan

Invisible wrote: »

No.
Unless you just really want to get a series of painful shots for the practically nonexistent chance a healthy, domesticated chihuahua with an owner has rabies and transferred it with a minor scratch.
And really, if you didn't notice it for five minutes later, maybe it wasn't even the dog?

I got bit by a puppy who hadn't been fully vaccinated (we'd just gotten him, it wasn't a serious bite.) I was given some kind of antibiotic cream and some pills. No rabies shots, even though the puppy wasn't vaccinated for that yet.

But yeah, keep it clean and keep an eye on it. You're probably fine. I only got meds because I waited to tell my parents and it got kinda inflamed. (I was like, ten, and thought they'd give the dog back.)