Do I need a shot if scratched and bleeding from a one-month-old kitten?
Mar 28, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Feng
Introduction
Generally, you should get a shot if scratched and bled by a one-month-old kitten. Since rabies virus may be present in the kitten's saliva and tissue fluids, and kittens often lick their claws, it is recommended to receive the rabies vaccine promptly to prevent rabies infection. Additionally, after a professional doctor evaluates your condition, you should also receive a tetanus vaccine to prevent tetanus spores from entering the body through contaminated wounds and causing illness.
Generally, a bite or scratch from a one-month-old kitten that breaks the skin and causes bleeding requires medical injections.
Clinically, a skin-penetrating injury caused by a one-month-old kitten is usually classified as a level-3 exposure. Since rabies virus may be present in the kitten's saliva and tissue fluids, and kittens often lick their claws, although the virus survives only briefly on claws, it is still recommended to receive the rabies vaccine promptly to prevent rabies infection. Additionally, immediate medical consultation is necessary; a healthcare professional will assess the condition and administer a tetanus vaccine to prevent tetanus spores from entering the body through contaminated wounds, which could lead to muscle rigidity, breathing difficulties, or cardiac abnormalities.
When such injuries occur, it is advisable to undergo local wound cleaning and disinfection under the guidance of a qualified physician before receiving injections, in order to reduce the risk of infection.
