When is rabies post-exposure prophylaxis recommended for animal bite?

A clinician considers the animal species, its behaviour and health, where the contact occurred, whether the animal can be observed or tested, and whether saliva reached broken skin, the eyes, or the mouth. A bite is not the only relevant exposure. Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis may include wound care, vaccine, and, for some exposures, rabies immunoglobulin. The decision is urgent because prevention works before symptoms develop.

Wash and flush the wound with running water and soap as soon as possible, then seek urgent medical assessment. Do not wait to see whether the wound becomes painful or infected, and do not rely on the animal appearing well. Tell the clinician the time and place of exposure, the animal's description, whether it was owned or available for observation, and your previous rabies vaccination history. Keep follow-up appointments for every advised dose.

Seek urgent care immediately after any bite or scratch from a bat, stray mammal, or animal behaving unusually, and after saliva contacts broken skin or a mucous membrane. Go promptly for wounds to the face, neck, hands, or multiple sites, or if the person exposed is a child or has reduced immunity. Also ask about tetanus protection and treatment for bacterial infection; these are separate from rabies prevention.

Ask whether the exposure needs vaccine or immunoglobulin, how quickly the schedule should begin, what wound care is required, and whether tetanus or antibiotics are indicated.