Animal Bite Navigator
Bitten, scratched or licked by a dog, cat, monkey or another animal and not sure whether you need the rabies vaccine? Answer five questions and this tool gives you your WHO exposure category, what treatment that category needs, and where to go right now. It follows India’s National Guidelines on Rabies Prophylaxis and is reviewed by Dr. Manuj Sondhi (MRCP UK, MD, DNB), Consultant Physician with a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases & HIV, Nirvana Clinic, opposite Delta-1 Metro.
Before you start: if the wound is fresh, wash it under running water with soap for a full 15 minutes first, then come back to this page. The tool takes under a minute. It does not replace a doctor looking at the wound — it tells you how urgently that needs to happen.
Do I need the rabies vaccine?
Five questions. Based on India’s National Guidelines on Rabies Prophylaxis and WHO exposure categories.
1. Which animal was it?
Pick the closest match.
2. What happened to your skin?
Look at the area closely in good light. Even a pinpoint of blood counts as “broke the skin”.
3. Have you ever completed a full rabies vaccine course?
A full course means all 5 doses after an earlier bite, or a 3-dose pre-exposure course — with a card or record you can show.
4. When did it happen?
Timing changes how urgently you need to be seen — it never makes the vaccine unnecessary.
5. Does any of this apply?
Choose the one that matters most, or “none”.
This result is general guidance from published guidelines, not a diagnosis. The exposure category is confirmed by the doctor after examining the wound, and may change. If the bitten person has fever with tingling or pain spreading from the bite, difficulty swallowing, fear of water or air, confusion or weakness, go to a hospital emergency department immediately.
How the Navigator Decides
The tool applies the WHO exposure categories used in India’s National Guidelines on Rabies Prophylaxis. The category depends on what the animal did to your skin — not on how healthy the animal looked, how small the wound is, or whether it has healed.
| Category | What happened | Vaccine | RIG | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Touching or feeding the animal; lick on unbroken skin | No | No | Wash; no visit needed |
| II | Nibbling of uncovered skin; minor scratch or graze without bleeding | Full 5-dose course (2 boosters if previously vaccinated) | No, unless immunity is weakened | Same day |
| III | Any bite or scratch that breaks the skin; lick on broken skin; saliva in eyes, nose or mouth; any bat contact | Full 5-dose course (2 boosters if previously vaccinated) | Yes, day 0 (up to day 7 of the first dose) | Same day; tonight if face/hands/child/wild animal |
| Rodents | Rat, mouse, squirrel, rabbit | Generally not given | No | Wound care and tetanus review |
Previously vaccinated
A documented full course (5 doses after a bite, or 3 pre-exposure doses) turns any new exposure into two boosters on day 0 and day 3 with no RIG. A course completed within the last 3 months usually needs nothing further. See the full schedule page.
Late presentation
The tool never downgrades a result because time has passed. If you have no symptoms, the course is started in full, and RIG is still given for Category III. See bitten days or weeks ago.
Weakened immunity
If you take long-term steroids, are on chemotherapy, live with HIV or have had a transplant, a Category II exposure is managed as Category III and the full course is always completed.
What this tool cannot do
It cannot see the wound, cannot judge how deep a puncture is, and cannot tell you whether a dog that bit you is healthy. Those are the doctor’s job, and they can move your category up or down. Use the result to decide how fast to come in — not whether to come in.
Care Led by Dr. Manuj Sondhi
MRCP (UK), MD, DNB · Consultant Physician & Diabetologist
2-year Fellowship in Infectious Diseases & HIV, Tata Memorial Hospital · Visiting Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis Greater Noida
Dr. Sondhi built this navigator from the national guidelines he follows in clinic. He assesses animal bites, gives the first vaccine dose at the same visit, arranges RIG where it is needed, and follows the course through to day 28 as part of the clinic’s infectious disease service. Read his full profile.
📍 GF-93, Ground Floor, Sun Twilight Complex, opposite Delta-1 Metro Station, Greater Noida 201308 · Mon–Sat 9 AM–8 PM · 5.0 ★ · 350+ Google reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tool a substitute for seeing a doctor after an animal bite?
No. It tells you the likely exposure category and how urgently you need to be seen. The doctor confirms the category after examining the wound, decides on immunoglobulin, reviews tetanus protection and starts the vaccine. Any bite or scratch that marks the skin needs a same-day visit.
The dog looked healthy. Does that change my category?
No. The category is decided by what happened to your skin, not by how the animal looked. A healthy-looking dog or cat can still be observed for 10 days while your vaccination runs, and the doctor may stop the course if it stays well. Monkeys, wild animals and strays cannot be observed, so the course is completed.
Why does any bat contact count as Category III?
Bat bites and scratches can be too small to see or feel, so any direct contact with a bat is managed as the highest exposure category under WHO guidance. Bat exposures are uncommon in India, but they should still be assessed by a doctor the same day.
Why are rat and mouse bites treated differently?
Rodents are not considered a source of rabies transmission to humans in India, so the national guidelines do not call for rabies vaccination after rodent bites. The wound still needs cleaning, a tetanus review and sometimes antibiotics, so a doctor should look at it.
Does the navigator store my answers?
No. The questions are answered on your own device and nothing is sent to the clinic or stored on the website. If you choose the WhatsApp button, only the message you see pre-filled is sent, and you can edit it before sending.
What if my answer falls between two options?
Choose the more serious option. In rabies prevention, over-treating a borderline exposure costs a few injections; under-treating a real exposure can cost a life. The doctor will adjust the plan after seeing the wound.
Got Your Category? The Next Step Is a Visit Today
Vaccine in stock, first dose at the same visit, same-day RIG referral for Category III. Opposite Delta-1 Metro, Greater Noida.