Dog Scratch... Tetanus?

[mirranda]

DS is 8 and was immunized through 6 months so had 3 tetanus shots.

Tonight he was outside playing with the dog who had been let out to potty about 1/2 hour before and somehow the dog's paw slipped and her claw brushed his gum just under his upper lip.

It barely broke the surface, really more of a scrape than a scratch. It bled a little and I brought him in and rinsed it with water and had him rinse with hydrogen peroxide. I'm just concerned that because this was a mouth wound that I have more to worry about. It's been a few hours and I really can't even see the scratch anymore, but I'm still a little worried. Anyone want to tell me to calm down and stop freaking out?

[emmy526]

Calm down and stop freaking out and scaring yourself over nothing...how many kids have you heard of getting a dog scratch resulting in a case of tetanus??

[Taximom5]

Welcome aboard, Mirranda!

Your child has had 3 tetanus shots, and you said it was neither a deep nor a dirty wound, which is what seems to increase the likelihood of tetanus infection.

Here is what the Mayo Clinic has to say:

"See your doctor to obtain a tetanus booster shot if you have a deep or dirty wound and you haven't had a booster shot within the past five years or aren't sure of your vaccination status. Or see your doctor about a tetanus booster for any wound — especially if it may have been contaminated with dirt, animal feces or manure — if you haven't had a booster shot within the past 10 years or aren't sure of your vaccination status."

Your child had tetanus vaccine within the last 10 years, and it wasn not a dirty wound (dogs rarely step in their own feces, unless you suspect differently about your own dog), plus you cleaned it right away.

My child was bitten by his teacher's pet chinchilla, and it didn't even draw blood--my son knew enough to squeeze it like crazy to make it bleed, one drop.  The school nurse was having fits, insisting that he needed a tetanus shot.  Our pediatrician just laughed and said, no, he didn't, the nurse was just over-reacting.  And, no, he did not get tetanus.

I hope that you talked to your doctor before coming here for information? If not, I suggest you ask for your doctor's opinion.