What to Do After a Dog Bite: 3 Steps That Prevent Rabies
A bite or scratch can feel minor — but what you do in the first hour matters. Here is exactly what to do after a dog bite, how serious it is, and the rabies vaccine schedule India follows.
What to do after a dog bite: the short answer
Knowing what to do after a dog bite can save a life. Wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, skip all home remedies, and get the rabies vaccine started the same day. Minor scratches can usually be handled with a doctor-guided first dose at home; deep or bleeding bites need a hospital or anti-rabies clinic first. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is preventable with prompt treatment.
The same steps apply to scratches and bites from cats, monkeys and other animals — the National Rabies Control Programme notes that dogs cause about 96% of cases in India, but other animals can transmit rabies too.
Not sure what to do after a dog bite? Talk to our doctor on WhatsApp — we'll tell you exactly what to do next.
Book on WhatsApp +91 70326 83555 · All days 7 AM–9 PM · Home vaccination across HyderabadStep 1: Wash the wound for at least 15 minutes
If you remember only one thing about what to do after a dog bite, make it this — it is the single most important step in the first minutes. The World Health Organization recommends washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, as soon as possible after the bite or scratch. Run the water over the wound, lather with ordinary soap, and keep going even if it feels long.
- Use ordinary soap and running tap water — no special products needed.
- Wash every bite and scratch, including small ones.
- Pat dry gently with a clean cloth.
- Then get medical advice the same day.
Step 2: What not to do after a dog bite
Searching for what to do after a dog bite often turns up home remedies. Many traditional remedies feel helpful but can delay proper care or irritate the wound. Avoid:
- Chilli, turmeric, oil, lime, herbal pastes or any home remedy on the wound.
- Covering a deep wound tightly or getting it stitched before a doctor advises.
- Waiting to see whether the dog falls ill before starting the vaccine.
- Assuming a small scratch is harmless — it can still need vaccination.
Step 3: Know your exposure type
Part of knowing what to do after a dog bite is knowing how serious it is. The WHO groups exposures into three categories:
| Category | What happened | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| I | Touching or feeding an animal, or a lick on unbroken skin | Wash the skin — no vaccine needed |
| II | Nibbling of bare skin, or minor scratches without bleeding | Wash + start the vaccine immediately (can begin at home after doctor assessment) |
| III | Bites or scratches that break the skin, licks on broken skin, saliva in eyes or mouth | Wash + vaccine + rabies immunoglobulin — go to a hospital or anti-rabies clinic now |
If you are unsure which category applies, treat it as the more serious one and get advice straight away.
Rabies vaccine schedule after a dog bite (India)
India's National Guidelines for Rabies Prophylaxis set out these schedules. Day 0 is the day of your first dose:
| Situation | Schedule |
|---|---|
| After a bite — intramuscular | 5 doses: Day 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 |
| After a bite — intradermal | 4 visits: Day 0, 3, 7, 28 |
| Previously fully vaccinated | 2 doses: Day 0 and 3 (no immunoglobulin) |
| Pre-exposure (before any bite) | 3 doses: Day 0, 7, 21 or 28 |
The last part of what to do after a dog bite is finishing the vaccine course. Completing every dose matters. If a dose is delayed, don't restart on your own — ask a doctor how to continue. In Hyderabad, we can give each follow-up dose at home so nothing gets missed: see our rabies vaccine in Hyderabad home service.
What if the dog looks healthy or is vaccinated?
This is one of the most common questions about what to do after a dog bite. A healthy-looking or vaccinated dog lowers the risk, but it does not rule rabies out — and rabies is not something to gamble on. A doctor should assess every bite. In some situations the vaccine course can be stopped on medical advice if the animal stays healthy through a 10-day observation, but the vaccine should be started without waiting.
Protect your family before a bite
The best answer to what to do after a dog bite is to be protected before one ever happens. If you have pets, your children play around street dogs, or you work with animals, a pre-exposure course gives you a head start: if you are ever bitten, you need just two doses and no immunoglobulin. JustVaccine gives the full rabies vaccine at home in Hyderabad — pre-exposure and post-exposure — with a free doctor assessment first.
Want rabies protection for your family, or follow-up doses at home? Message us — our doctor will guide you.
Book on WhatsApp +91 70326 83555 · All days 7 AM–9 PM · Home vaccination across HyderabadFrequently asked questions
What to do after a dog bite, in order: wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, don't apply home remedies, and get medical advice the same day so the rabies vaccine can be started. Deep or bleeding bites need a hospital or anti-rabies clinic.
Usually yes. WHO treats minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding as Category II, which needs wound washing and immediate vaccination. A doctor should assess it — JustVaccine can do this on WhatsApp and give the first dose at home in Hyderabad.
As soon as possible, ideally the same day. If some time has already passed, still seek care straight away — don't assume it is too late to start.
Don't decide this on your own. A doctor should assess every bite. In some cases the course can be stopped on medical advice if the animal stays healthy through a 10-day observation, but treatment should not be delayed while you wait.
Avoid chilli, turmeric, oil, lime, herbal pastes or any home remedy, and don't cover a deep wound tightly. Washing with soap and water is what helps.
Under India's national guidelines, the intramuscular schedule is five doses on Day 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28, or four visits on Day 0, 3, 7 and 28 for the intradermal schedule. People who were fully vaccinated before need only two doses, on Day 0 and Day 3.
No. That was an old type of vaccine that is no longer used in India. Modern rabies vaccines are given in the upper arm, or the thigh in small children.
Yes. JustVaccine gives pre-exposure courses, the first dose for doctor-assessed minor scratches, and all follow-up doses of a post-bite schedule at home across Hyderabad, any day 7 AM–9 PM.
Trusted sources
- Govt. of India · MoHFW: National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP)
- Govt. of India · NCDC: National Guidelines for Rabies Prophylaxis 2019
- World Health Organization: Rabies — fact sheet
- World Health Organization: Rabies vaccinations and immunization
- World Health Organization: India's national plan to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030
- MSD Manuals: Rabies — consumer guide
- CDC (U.S. Government): Rabies prevention and control
This guide follows WHO and Government of India guidance and is for general information. It is not a substitute for medical care — after any animal bite, wash the wound and seek medical advice the same day.
Bitten or scratched? Talk to our doctor now
Free doctor assessment on WhatsApp. Rabies vaccine at home across Hyderabad — first dose for minor scratches and every follow-up dose.
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