What to do if bitten or scratched by an animal:
Immediately wash the wound with lots of soap and water.
Capture the animal, if possible, so it can be checked for rabies. Take care to prevent additional bites, or get the pet owner's name, address, and telephone number. Find out if the animal has a current rabies vaccination and write down the rabies tag and license number.
If an animal must be killed, do not damage the head. Rabies testing is done on the brain.
When dealing with a dead animal, wear gloves or use a shovel to move the animal. Put the animal's body in a heavy duty plastic bag and place in a protected area away from people and other animals. If necessary, a dead animal may be kept overnight on ice or in a refrigerator until it can be picked up for testing. Do not freeze. Clean the area and any tools used to remove the animal with one part bleach to 10 parts water.
Do not delay seeking medical advice. Go to your family doctor or the nearest emergency room.
Call your local health department right away.
