For dog or cat bites and scratches, rinse the area with soap and running water for 15 minutes, then get vaccinated on the same day

Once rabies symptoms appear, the fatality rate is practically 100%. Rinsing with soap and water followed by vaccination is the sole safeguard. First, rinse the affected area with alternating streams of soap and running water for 15 minutes, then seek medical care on the same day. If the skin is broken and the wound has been licked, this constitutes a category III exposure, requiring the extra passive immunization product. The fact that a pet has been vaccinated does not alter this classification; exposure level is determined solely by the nature of the injury, not by the animal’s background.

Cost

Rinsing requires no expense. The full course of rabies vaccination costs several hundred yuan. For category III exposures, an additional passive immunization product—essentially ready-made antibodies administered directly—is needed, adding several hundred to over a thousand yuan. The greatest cost, however, comes from delays.

Benefit

According to the 2023 guidelines issued by China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and Health Commission, “The fatality rate from rabies is practically 100%.” Recommended first aid is “to thoroughly rinse all bite and scratch sites with alternating streams of soap (or another mildly alkaline cleanser) and running water under adequate pressure for roughly 15 minutes.” For minor bites where skin remains intact or superficial scratches without bleeding—classified as category II exposures—vaccination alone is sufficient. Category III exposures, involving penetrating wounds or licked broken skin, mandate both wound treatment, passive immunization, and full vaccination. The WHO reports that roughly 59,000 people worldwide die from rabies each year, 99% of cases linked to dog bites.

Notes

Never skip treatment on the assumption that a pet is vaccinated or well‑tended; guidelines base classification strictly on wound severity, not on the animal’s status. Do not attempt to bandage the wound yourself. The ten‑day observation method may inform whether to discontinue vaccination, but it never negates the need to begin it. The same protocol applies to bites inflicted by wild animals or bats. If you keep a dog, vaccinate it against rabies on schedule and keep it on a leash outside; see Section 8, item 30 (dogs must be leashed).

Sources · 2

1. 国家疾控局综合司、国家卫生健康委办公厅 (2023). 关于印发狂犬病暴露预防处置工作规范（2023 年版）的通知. ndcpa.gov.cn/jbkzzx/c100014/common/content/co…
2. WHO. 狂犬病 实况报道. who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies