The one thing to do right now
Wash the wound with soap and running water for a full 15 minutes. Time it. This alone removes and kills a large share of the virus. Then apply povidone-iodine (such as Betadine) or alcohol, and go to a hospital the same day.
Do not apply lime (chun), chilli, turmeric, mustard oil, toothpaste, or mud. Do not wait for a kabiraj, “thala pora” or other folk remedies — they do not prevent rabies, and delaying real treatment is how people die.
WHO exposure categories
| Category | Type of contact | What’s needed |
|---|---|---|
| I | Touching or feeding the animal; licks on intact skin | Wash the area. No vaccine needed. |
| II | Nibbling of uncovered skin; minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding | Wound washing + rabies vaccine immediately |
| III | Bites or scratches that break the skin and bleed; licks on broken skin; saliva in eyes, mouth or a wound; any contact with bats | Wound washing + rabies vaccine + rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) |
Source: World Health Organization, Rabies vaccines: WHO position paper (2018) and WHO rabies fact sheet.
Vaccine schedules your doctor may use
- Intradermal, 1 week: two small injections on days 0, 3 and 7
- Intramuscular (Essen): one injection on days 0, 3, 7 and between 14–28
- Intramuscular (Zagreb): two injections on day 0, one on day 7 and one on day 21
- Previously fully vaccinated people usually need only two doses (days 0 and 3) and no immunoglobulin.
Day 0 is the day you get the first dose — ideally the day of the bite. Our tool calculates the exact dates for you.
If your pet is involved
- Your pet bit or scratched someone: the person must see a doctor. Keep your pet confined and observe it for 10 days. A healthy dog or cat at day 10 means it could not have transmitted rabies at the time of the bite. Tell us — we’ll help with the observation and records.
- Your pet was bitten by a stray or unknown animal: wear gloves, wash the wound for 15 minutes, and bring your pet in within 24 hours. Vaccinated pets get an immediate rabies booster; unvaccinated pets need urgent veterinary advice.
- Warning signs of rabies in animals: sudden behaviour change, unusual aggression or unusual tameness, drooling, trouble swallowing, a dropped jaw, biting at the air, wobbliness or paralysis. Do not handle the animal — confine it from a distance and call for help.
Prevention is simple
Rabies is almost entirely preventable: vaccinate every cat and dog every year, avoid contact with unfamiliar or sick animals, and teach children to tell an adult about any bite or scratch — even a small one. Plan your pet’s rabies dates with our vaccination schedule tool.
This guide supports, and does not replace, advice from a doctor. For human treatment, always see a physician; Community Pet Care treats animals.