Dog tetanus

A bite, puncture or dirty wound can provide an entry point for tetanus bacteria. The infection affects the nervous system and may cause painful muscle stiffness or spasms, often involving the jaw and neck. A wound can look small while still needing assessment, and tetanus cannot be diagnosed from the wound’s appearance alone.

Wash the area promptly with running water and soap, apply gentle pressure for bleeding, and cover it with a clean dressing. Do not close a deep or contaminated wound yourself. Arrange medical care for bites, punctures, wounds to the hand or face, or any wound with uncertain vaccination history. Ask about Tetanus Vaccination and whether other bite treatment is needed.

Go to emergency care for jaw stiffness, trouble swallowing, painful spasms, breathing difficulty, confusion or rapidly worsening illness. Seek prompt wound review for spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever or increasing pain, which can indicate another infection. Do not wait for symptoms before checking whether prevention is due.

Ask whether the wound needs cleaning or antibiotics, whether your vaccination record is up to date, and what changes should prompt urgent review. Tell the clinician when the injury occurred, how deep it is and whether the dog is known and available for observation.