Bitten by a Dog? What to Do Right Away to Prevent Rabies
Wash a dog bite with soap and running water for 15 minutes, then get care the same day for rabies vaccination. What to do after a dog bite in Nakuru and across Kenya.
- Written by
- Primegala Clinical Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 4 min read
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Short answer: Wash the bite or scratch immediately with soap and running water for about 15 minutes, then go to a health facility the same day. A clinician will check the wound and decide whether you need rabies vaccination (a series of injections) and a tetanus jab. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms start, but it can be prevented with prompt vaccination after a bite.
A child walking home from school is nipped on the leg by a neighbour's dog. The skin is barely broken, there is hardly any blood, and it is tempting to rub on something from the kitchen and forget about it. But even a small bite, scratch or lick on broken skin can pass on rabies, and what you do in the next hours matters.
Step 1: Wash the wound straight away
- Wash and flush the wound with soap and plenty of running water for about 15 minutes. If there is no tap, pour water from a jug. This simple step helps remove the virus.
- Apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine after washing, if you have one.
- Don't put herbs, salt, chilli, soil or other home remedies on the wound.
- Press with a clean cloth if it is bleeding heavily, and cover it loosely.
Step 2: Get care the same day
Go to a health facility the same day, even if the wound looks small. Don't wait to see what happens to the dog. A clinician will:
- Check and clean the wound properly
- Decide whether you need rabies vaccination
- Check your tetanus protection
- Decide whether you need antibiotics, and whether the wound should be closed
Rabies vaccination after a bite is a series of injections over a few weeks. For serious bites, an extra injection called rabies immunoglobulin may also be needed. Go back for every dose on the dates you are given.
Which kinds of contact need care?
| Type of contact | Example | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Touching or feeding an animal, licks on unbroken skin | Patting a dog | Wash your hands. Vaccination is not usually needed |
| Nibbles on bare skin, small scratches without bleeding | A dog's playful nip | Wash for 15 minutes and get assessed the same day |
| Bites or scratches that break the skin, licks on broken skin, saliva in the eyes or mouth | A bite that bleeds | Wash for 15 minutes and go immediately |
A clinician makes the final decision, so if you are unsure, get assessed.
Why is rabies so serious?
- Rabies is caused by a virus in the saliva of infected animals. In Kenya, most cases come from dog bites, but cats and other mammals can carry it too.
- Symptoms can start weeks or months after a bite: fever and tingling or pain at the bite, then agitation, confusion, fear of water, muscle spasms and paralysis.
- Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. That is why washing the wound and getting vaccinated before symptoms start is so important.
What about the dog?
- Find out whose dog it is, if it is safe to do so, and whether it has been vaccinated. Don't try to catch an aggressive animal.
- If the dog can be watched, ask the owner to keep it confined for 10 days and tell your clinician if it becomes ill, dies or disappears. Don't delay vaccination while you wait.
- Report the bite, and any dog acting strangely (unusually aggressive, drooling, wandering or biting at objects), to your local veterinary or public health office.
Children are at higher risk
- Children are bitten more often, and more often on the face, head and hands, where bites are more serious.
- They may not tell you about a small nip or scratch, especially if they were teasing the dog. Ask, and check.
- Teach children not to approach dogs they don't know, not to disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping or with puppies, to stand still rather than run if a dog approaches, and to tell an adult about any bite or scratch.
Protect your home: vaccinate your pets
- Vaccinate your dogs and cats against rabies as advised by a vet, and keep up their boosters. Look out for county dog vaccination campaigns.
- Keep dogs in a fenced compound or on a lead, so they don't roam and fight with other animals.
When to call 999 or 112
Call 999 or 112, or come straight in, for heavy bleeding that won't stop with firm pressure, deep bites to the face, neck or hands, or a serious attack by one or more dogs.
How Primegala can help
We are open 24 hours at Maili Sita on the Nakuru–Nyahururu Road, so you don't have to wait until morning. After you wash the wound, come straight in: our team can clean and assess the bite, check your tetanus protection and arrange rabies vaccination, referring you where needed. Learn about our 24-hour urgent care and wound care, and know what to do in an emergency.
At Primegala
24-Hour Urgent Care
Open all night for sudden illness and injuries, with stabilisation and referral when needed.
- Open 24 hours, every day, including public holidays
- Maili Sita, opposite Kiamaina Primary School
- SHA accepted for eligible services
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a rabies vaccine if the dog looked healthy?
Get assessed the same day. A dog can pass on rabies before it looks sick. A clinician decides whether you need vaccination, and may adjust the plan if the dog stays healthy during 10 days of observation.
Is it too late for the rabies vaccine if the bite was weeks ago?
Get assessed anyway. Rabies symptoms can take weeks or months to appear, so vaccination may still be recommended long after a bite, as long as symptoms have not started.
What about cat bites, scratches or a lick on broken skin?
Treat them the same way: wash for 15 minutes and get assessed the same day. Cats and other mammals can also carry rabies.