KerryTy

The problem is that the wound is starting to heal from both ends as its a very narrow wound (imagine the thinness of paper). But I think the hydrogen peroxide I put on yesterday should remove any bacteria within the wound from all the fizzing

Going to continue with the betadine to keep the wound clean. But other than that doctor say I have nothing to worry about. Take the antibiotics if the wound shows any sign of infection.

I mean you know how you need multiple shots for complete covering? I only had one

Ok the doctor say I don't need the immunoglobulin as they only give it for very severe wounds. She say it's good I apply first aid asap but did prescribe me some antibiotics just in case it gets infected. So relief :)

And yet all statistic that shows how tetanus have been reducing over the past decades was due to the widespread of vaccines. I think proper wound care should be more important. Since vaccine are not 100% effective. There are even some well vaccinated people that get tetanus!

I thought all GP's said you need to re-dose every ten years as the vaccine lose the effectiveness after that long. Plus some people say dog's saliva contain the tetanus bacteria which I'm unsure of. But yeah I haven't had the full vaccine and yet I'm still alive after countless cuts and scrapes I've endured during the past 16 years or so, some even without any first aid!

Yeah that's the kind of bandaid I use, the ones with silver. Waiting at the GP office now, hopefully I don't need a shot!

Yeah I have heard people say that dog saliva can cure wounds, that's why they lick themselves when they have a wound. But I just want to be on the safe side, that's why I put loads of hydrogen peroxide and betadine. The wound is little sore this morning and a little red around, but this happens to all my wounds before, so I think it's just normal reaction. No fever etc. To be honest, after hearing all of yous, I'm more worried now of allergic reaction from any sort of injections than the wound itself causing tetanus.

I have had dog scratches and puppy nips before too but they were mostly surface wound that bleed a little, which I know won't cause tetanus as its so shallow and easy to clean. If I remember correctly, I last and only tetanus vaccine I had was about 16,17 years ago, wasn't fully vaccinated at that time either as only had one shot due to allergic reaction. If it weren't for my upcoming conference I might get an immunoglobulin, but I really don't want any possible allergic reaction to ruin my trip and plans, since I'm allergic to quite a lot of medication eg penicillin. Will ask the doctor tomorrow as I'm going in for my blood test result, but I don't know whether I should get the shot if the doctor suggest it.

Well she's an indoor dog, and no she does not have a habit of eating soil or poop. In fact she will keep as far away as possible from her own poop lol, and I don't live in farm so no horse or cow manure in the fenced backyard. Not long before she licked me she drank a lot of water after a game of fetch indoor, which I hope will help clean her mouth a little. I put some betadine on the wound just now after showering and planning to leave it exposed in the air while sleeping, don't want to put bandaid on overnight. So the reason why they gave tetanus shots after dog bite is because they assume all dogs eats manure or soil? Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought tetanus bacteria are everywhere, not just in soil?

I know many doctors will give tetanus shots after a dog bite. But what if a dog licked a open wound? I had a deep paper cut (the paper was clean and brand new) and before I could bandage it up my dog, who's laying next to me, casually gave it a few licks before I can pull my hand away. The wound was bleeding after the lick but it was deep and very narrowly thin, very similar to the wound condition when they gave you tetanus shot (deep punctures). I put on hydrogen peroxide, let it fizz up and then a bandaid over it. I haven't had a tetanus shot for over 10 years as when I had it when I was little I had an allergic reaction to the shot. So I've never had it since. Is tetanus shot really necessary after a dog bite? I've heard tetanus bacteria lives in oxygen-lacking environments, if so then a dog's mouth should be well oxygenated that the tetanus bacteria won't be able to survive? I'm just really confused, plus if tetanus can be caused by dog bite, then what happens during a dog fight? I don't see vet giving dogs tetanus vaccine? I don't want to get a tetanus shot but if really needed I might get the immunoglobulin, which I don't know if I will have a reaction to or not as I've never had it. Plus I have an oversea conference to attend in a few days, so having an allergic reaction is the last thing I need.