Dog Bite? What to Do Right Now — Step by Step
The first hour after a dog bite is when most mistakes happen: turmeric on the wound, a tight bandage, a decision to “wait and see”. This page sets out exactly what to do, in order, from the first minute to the last vaccine dose on day 28. Dr. Manuj Sondhi (MRCP UK, MD, DNB), Consultant Physician with a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases & HIV, runs the animal-bite service at Nirvana Clinic, opposite Delta-1 Metro, Greater Noida.
The short version: Wash the bite under running water with soap for a full 15 minutes, apply an antiseptic, and see a doctor today — not tomorrow. The first rabies vaccine dose is given the same day. If the skin was broken, rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is added in and around the wound. Do this even if the dog is a pet, vaccinated, or the bite looks small.
Not sure which category your bite is? Use the Animal Bite Navigator — five questions, one clear next step.
The First 15 Minutes: Do This Before Anything Else
Washing is not a home remedy — it is the first step of rabies prevention in every national and WHO guideline. Do it properly, then go.
- Wash under running tap water with soap for a full 15 minutes. Set a timer — most people stop after two minutes. Any ordinary soap works; the running water matters as much as the soap.
- Let it bleed a little. Do not squeeze or press hard to “push out the poison”, and do not suck the wound.
- Apply an antiseptic after washing. Povidone-iodine or spirit on and around the wound. If neither is at home, do not delay leaving to find one — washing is the main step.
- Cover loosely with a clean cloth or gauze. Do not tie it tightly or seal it with tape; a tight cover traps saliva and bacteria.
- Do NOT apply turmeric, chilli, lime, oil, coffee powder, ash or any paste. None of these kill the rabies virus, and they make the wound harder to assess.
- Do not get the wound stitched or cauterised. Stitching can push virus deeper. If a large facial wound must be closed, it is done loosely, after RIG, on the doctor’s decision.
- Note the time and the dog. When and where it happened, whether the dog has an owner, whether it can be watched for 10 days, and whether it was behaving strangely.
Then see a doctor today. Not after the weekend. The vaccine needs about a week to produce antibodies, so every day before the first dose is a day without protection.
Then: Get the Category Decided Today
What happens next depends on the WHO exposure category — decided by what happened to your skin, not by the size of the dog.
| Category | What happened | Vaccine? | RIG? |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Touched or fed the dog; lick on unbroken skin | No — wash the area | No |
| II | Nibbling of uncovered skin; minor scratch or graze without bleeding | Yes — full course | No (yes, if your immunity is weakened) |
| III | Any bite or scratch that breaks the skin, however small; lick on broken skin or a cut; saliva in eyes, nose or mouth | Yes — full course | Yes — in and around the wound, ideally day 0 |
Two things people get wrong: a scratch that did not bleed still needs the vaccine (Category II), and a bite that bled — even one tooth-mark — needs RIG as well (Category III). The dose-by-dose course is on our rabies vaccine schedule page.
What Happens at the Clinic Visit
1. Wound check and category
The doctor examines the wound, re-cleans it if needed, records the category and the details of the dog, and explains the plan before anything is injected.
2. First vaccine dose — day 0
Nirvana Clinic keeps cell-culture rabies vaccine in stock (Rabivax-S or Abhayrab), so the first dose is given at the same visit. You leave with a written schedule for days 3, 7, 14 and 28.
3. RIG arranged the same day
For Category III bites, rabies immunoglobulin is infiltrated in and around the wound. The clinic does not stock RIG: the vaccine is started here and you are referred the same day to a nearby centre for RIG. Who needs RIG, and when.
4. Tetanus review and antibiotics where needed
Your tetanus protection is reviewed at the same visit. Antibiotics are prescribed for some wounds — deep punctures, hand or face bites, crush injuries, late presentation, weakened immunity — not for every bite, and they do nothing against rabies itself.
From the Bite to Day 28: The Whole Timeline
| When | What happens | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hour 0 | 15-minute soap-and-water wash, antiseptic, loose cover. | Removes much of the virus-containing saliva. |
| Same day | Doctor visit: category decided, first vaccine dose (day 0), RIG for Category III, tetanus review, antibiotics if indicated. | Day 0 starts the antibody clock; RIG covers the gap. |
| Day 3 | Second vaccine dose. | Builds the early immune response. |
| Day 7 | Third vaccine dose. Last day RIG can still be given if it was missed. | Protective antibody levels are usually reached from about now. |
| Day 10 | If a pet dog under observation is still alive and healthy, tell the doctor. | The doctor may stop the remaining doses. You do not stop on your own. |
| Day 14 | Fourth vaccine dose. | Consolidates immunity. |
| Day 28 | Fifth and final dose. Keep the vaccination card. | Lasting immunity; a future bite needs only two boosters. |
Missed a dose? You continue from where you stopped; the course is not restarted. The schedule page covers late doses and boosters.
About the Dog: What Changes, and What Doesn’t
A pet with a vaccination record
You still start the vaccine today. A dog’s vaccination lowers the risk but does not remove it — records are often uncertain and immunity cannot be checked at the roadside. Observation runs alongside your course, never instead of it.
A stray or unknown dog
Full course, with RIG if the skin was broken; no observation is possible. Do not try to catch, chase or kill the dog — that is how second bites happen. Report an aggressive stray to your society office or the municipal helpline.
A puppy
Treated exactly like an adult dog’s bite. Puppies can carry and pass on rabies, sometimes before they look ill, and their needle-like teeth break the skin easily. “It was only a puppy” is a common reason people delay care.
The 10-day observation rule
Applies only to dogs and cats that can actually be watched every day. If the animal is alive and healthy on day 10, the doctor may stop the remaining doses. It is the doctor’s decision on day 10 — never a reason to postpone day 0.
Bites from society dogs and strays are common across Greater Noida — Pari Chowk, Delta 1, Knowledge Park, Gaur City, Noida Extension — and children are often bitten on the hands or face, which are high-risk sites. A cat or monkey bite follows the same rules, with the differences explained on those pages.
Bitten at Night, or the Clinic Is Closed?
Wash the wound for 15 minutes now. Then send us a WhatsApp message — it is seen first thing in the morning — and come in when the clinic opens at 9 AM to start your vaccine the same day.
Go to the nearest hospital emergency department tonight if
- the bite is deep, there are several bites, or the bleeding will not stop with pressure
- the bite is on the face, head, neck, hands or genitals — high-risk sites
- the animal was a wild animal, or a dog behaving strangely (unprovoked attack, staggering, drooling, biting at nothing)
- saliva got into your eyes, nose or mouth
- a child under 5 has any bite that broke the skin
Most hospital emergency departments can clean the wound and start rabies prevention tonight. Bring the discharge paper to us for the remaining doses.
Bitten days or weeks ago and never vaccinated? The course still starts in full — read why it is not too late, and why today still matters.
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 assesses animal bites, starts the vaccine course at the same visit, arranges RIG where needed, and follows the course to completion. He also runs 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 a small scratch from a dog dangerous?
It can be. A scratch or graze that did not bleed is a Category II exposure and needs the full rabies vaccine course. A scratch or bite that bled, however small, is Category III and needs rabies immunoglobulin as well as the vaccine. Wash it for 15 minutes and see a doctor the same day.
The dog is vaccinated. Do I still need the rabies vaccine?
Yes. A vaccinated dog lowers the risk but does not remove it, because records are often incomplete and a dog's immunity cannot be verified at the time of the bite. You start the course today. If the dog can be observed and is alive and healthy after 10 days, the doctor may stop the remaining doses.
A puppy bit me. Do I need the rabies vaccine?
Yes. Puppies can carry and transmit rabies, sometimes before they appear ill, and their sharp teeth break the skin easily. A puppy bite is categorised and treated exactly like a bite from an adult dog.
I got the vaccine the next day instead of the same day. Is that OK?
Start as soon as you can; a one-day delay is not a reason to panic, but not a reason to wait any longer either. The day of your first dose becomes day 0 and the course runs from there. For a Category III bite, rabies immunoglobulin can still be given up to day 7 after the first dose.
Should a dog bite be stitched?
Usually not. Stitching can push virus deeper and increases wound infection, so bite wounds are generally left open or closed later. If a large facial wound has to be closed, it is done loosely after rabies immunoglobulin has been infiltrated, on the doctor's decision.
Do I need antibiotics after a dog bite?
Not for every bite. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for deep puncture wounds, bites on the hands, face or genitals, crush injuries, wounds cleaned late, and people with diabetes or weakened immunity. They prevent bacterial infection; they do nothing against rabies, which is prevented by the vaccine and immunoglobulin.
Do I need a tetanus injection after a dog bite?
It depends on your tetanus vaccination status. If your last tetanus dose was more than five years ago, or you are not sure when it was, a booster is usually advised because a bite is a contaminated wound. Your tetanus protection is reviewed at the same visit as the first rabies dose.
Will I need rabies immunoglobulin (RIG)?
If the bite or scratch broke the skin, or saliva touched broken skin or your eyes, nose or mouth, yes. RIG is infiltrated in and around the wound to neutralise virus while the vaccine takes effect, ideally on day 0 and no later than day 7. Nirvana Clinic starts the vaccine and refers you the same day to a nearby centre for RIG.
Washed the Wound? Now Come In for the First Dose
Vaccine in stock, first dose at the same visit, RIG arranged the same day when needed. Walk in near Delta-1 Metro, or message us first.