What to do in the first 60 minutes after a dog bite
The actions you take immediately after exposure dramatically change your outcome. A step-by-step guide covering wound care, when to go to the ER, and what to tell your doctor.
Read article →Bitten or scratched by an animal? Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear — and 100% preventable when you act fast. Find verified PEP clinics, assess your risk, and get expert guidance in seconds.
These three steps, done immediately, are the difference between survival and tragedy.
Scrub the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. This single action is one of the most effective rabies prevention steps — do it before anything else.
Go directly to the nearest clinic or emergency department. A healthcare professional must evaluate whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed. Every hour of delay increases risk.
If the animal can be safely identified, inform local authorities. An animal available for observation may reduce the number of vaccine doses required in your PEP course.
Locate verified PEP clinics near you. Real capability data — who has vaccine, who has HRIG in stock, open 24h.
Risk level and treatment protocol differ by animal — knowing matters for your care.
“If the animal seems fine, you're safe”
Infected animals can appear completely healthy for weeks while still transmitting rabies through a bite.
“Rabies only comes from wild animals”
Domestic dogs and cats cause 99% of human rabies deaths globally. Unvaccinated pets are the #1 risk.
“I'll know if I was bitten by a bat”
Bat teeth are needle-thin. You can be bitten while asleep and feel nothing. Any bat contact warrants medical evaluation.
Instantly locate verified rabies PEP clinics near you. Filter by vaccine stock, HRIG availability, 24-hour service, and walk-in access.
Find care now →Answer questions about your exposure and get a personalised risk level with recommended next steps — tailored to animal type, wound severity, and vaccination status.
Assess my risk →Track your full PEP schedule — Day 0, 3, 7, 14 — with smart reminders. Never miss a critical dose. Supports standard and accelerated protocols.
Start tracking →Review rabies symptoms in humans and animals. Know which behavioural signs indicate high-risk exposure and when to escalate to emergency care.
Check symptoms →Country-level rabies profiles, pre-exposure vaccine recommendations, and local PEP availability data for 120+ countries before you fly.
Plan travel →Select your situation and get the most relevant resources instantly.
What to do if your dog, cat or pet is bitten by a wild animal. Vet visit checklist, quarantine rules, and local reporting steps.
Read pet guide →Log your pet's rabies vaccination schedule. Get reminders before boosters are due. Keep records for travel and vet visits.
Track pet vaccines →Locate the nearest emergency vet clinic open now. Filter by 24-hour service and post-exposure capability.
Find clinic →Children are bitten more often and may hide it. Learn what warning signs to look for and when to go to the ER — not urgent care.
Parent guide →Age-appropriate content teaching children why to stay away from stray animals and what to tell an adult immediately.
Kids section →Downloadable bite-response checklists and school permission sheets. Print and share with your kids' school.
Download free →Country-level rabies profiles for 120+ destinations. Know whether pre-exposure vaccination (Pre-EP) is recommended before you fly.
Plan safe travel →Interactive WHO incidence data across 150+ countries. See which regions have active outbreaks before you book your trip.
View map →Pre-EP vaccine schedules for travellers, timing before departure, and what to do if bitten abroad where PEP isn't available.
Vaccine schedule →Peer-reviewed sources, infographics, and cited statistics for school projects, dissertations, and essays.
Student resources →Ready-to-use lesson plans, printable worksheets, and interactive activities for teachers covering rabies awareness.
School materials →Test what you know about rabies prevention, transmission, and treatment. Earn a shareable certificate upon completion.
Take the quiz →How to avoid wildlife contact, what to carry in your pack, and the full response protocol for bat or wild animal encounters off-grid.
Outdoor guide →Answer 6 questions about your animal encounter to get your personal risk level and the exact next steps per WHO guidelines.
Assess risk now →Find the closest clinic stocked with rabies vaccine and HRIG before you head out. Save the link offline just in case.
Find clinic →Human deaths per year globally — mostly preventable
Of cases fatal once symptoms appear
Preventable with timely post-exposure care
Verified PEP clinics indexed globally
Our interactive map layers WHO incidence data, reported animal cases, and local health authority alerts — so you can assess risk before you travel or understand your region.
The actions you take immediately after exposure dramatically change your outcome. A step-by-step guide covering wound care, when to go to the ER, and what to tell your doctor.
Read article →Bat contact is the leading cause of rabies deaths in the US. Bats can bite without waking you — which is why bat exposure protocols are stricter than for other animals.
Read article →Not every clinic stocks rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG). Knowing which facilities have the right supplies could save critical time after a high-risk exposure.
Read article →Wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Apply antiseptic. Seek emergency medical care for PEP evaluation immediately — do not wait for symptoms. Rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms appear.
Early signs: fever, headache, and weakness. Later: anxiety, confusion, difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). By the time symptoms appear it is almost always fatal — act on the bite, not the symptoms.
Start PEP as soon as possible — ideally within hours. PEP is 4 doses over 14 days (Days 0, 3, 7, 14) plus rabies immune globulin (HRIG) at the wound site on Day 0. Early PEP is nearly 100% effective.
Yes. Any scratch that breaks the skin from a rabid animal can transmit the virus. Bat scratches are especially dangerous — the claws are tiny and may leave no visible mark. Clean all wounds and consult a doctor immediately.
Yes — children are bitten more frequently and often don't report it. Teach children to avoid stray animals and to tell an adult immediately. All bites in children should be seen by a doctor the same day.
Use the SafeRabies Clinic Finder to filter by HRIG availability, 24-hour access, and walk-in service. Not all ERs stock HRIG — call ahead if possible.
The clinic finder told me exactly which hospital had HRIG in stock before I left home. That detail changed everything.
I travel to Southeast Asia frequently. SafeRabies' risk maps and pre-travel vaccine guidance have become part of my routine prep.
The symptom checker made me realise the animal's behaviour was high-risk. My doctor confirmed going to the ER immediately was the right call.
Get personalised guidance from a verified medical professional. Describe your exposure and receive a clinical recommendation — typically within 2 hours.
Avg. response < 2 hours
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