Owning a pet can significantly improve mental health, as pets can make people happier, more relaxed, and less lonely. Children also benefit from having pets at home, as they develop a sense of compassion, patience, and unconditional love. Assigning tasks like feeding or cleaning after the pet helps teach them responsibility. However, pets are still animals and can be prone to certain moods and behaviors. Parents should not take pets lightly, even if they are vaccinated, as forcing them to do something they don’t want or patting them on the head can result in scratches or bites. Therefore, parents should move quickly when caring for their pets.
“When your child is bitten or scratched by a pet, time is of the essence,” says Amado A. Flores III, MD of the Emergency Department of the top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). “Wash the wound with soap and clean running water for 10-15 minutes, apply an antiseptic on the wound, and cover it with a sterile bandage. Bring your child to the ER immediately if the wound is swollen, doesn’t stop bleeding, and is so severe, that it shows bones, muscles, and tendons. Otherwise, make sure you’re at the hospital no more than eight hours after the bite. The longer you wait, the more you put your child at risk for infection and possible complications.”
At the hospital, be prepared to answer questions about the animal that scratched or bit your child. “Has the pet had its rabies shots, or is its vaccination status unknown? Was it behaving strangely?” enumerates Dr. Flores. “Ideally, you’ll have to quarantine the animal to observe it for 10 days. Whether the dog or cat becomes ill or not, we strongly recommend a series of anti-rabies shots on your child.”
Post-exposure shots consist of four rabies vaccine doses given on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 (plus a fifth dose on Day 28 if the patient is immunocompromised), and a single dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG). The HRIG is administered as soon as possible after exposure to provide immediate, passive immunity, while the vaccine stimulates the body to produce antibodies that protect against the rabies virus. For subsequent exposures, those who have been previously vaccinated do not need HRIG and would typically receive two booster doses of the rabies vaccine, one on Day 0 and one on Day 3.
A critical issue in the Philippines, rabies cases numbered 354 from January to September 2024, a 23-percent jump from the previous year, according to the Department of Health. “Rabies is a fatal disease. But it’s also very preventable,” shares Dr. Flores. “Keep your pets’ vaccinations up to date, and teach your kids to respect dogs and cats, and all kinds of animals. Don’t bother them when they’re eating or sleeping, don’t run away or toward an unfamiliar dog or cat, never reach for a dog or cat from a gate or fence, and keep your child away from an animal once it starts to show signs of aggression.”
A pet with complete shots doesn’t necessarily mean your child is in the clear. “Dog and cat bites and scratches can transmit bacteria to the wound,” warns Dr. Flores. “Capnocytophaga and Pasteurella multocida from dog bites can lead to fever, diarrhea, swollen joints, and blisters or pus on the wound. The same symptoms have also been observed in Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, and Campylobacteriosis—bacteria found in the saliva of cats. Treatment for such conditions include antibiotics or a tetanus shot.”
A child who grows up with pets will surely have countless memories (and pictures!) of bonding with a furry, four-legged family member. “When you spend time in close contact with dogs or cats, scratches and bites are both avoidable and inevitable,” says Dr. Flores. “Be steps ahead: Have your pets vaccinated regularly, remind your children to be gentle with a dog or cat, and act quickly in the event of a scratch or bite.”
For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email [email protected], or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.
