A stray dog bit my dog: what should I do?

A dog's mouth is full of bacteria, so any bite that breaks the skin carries bacteria into the tissue underneath. VCA's vets say all bite wounds are considered contaminated or infected, and that wounds which look minor on the surface can be deceptive and even life-threatening, with crushed muscle or damage to the neck, chest or belly beneath a few small holes.

Left alone, the infection can form an abscess or spread under the skin as cellulitis, and in rare cases reach joints, bone or the chest. Time matters: VCA says wounds treated within six hours of the injury have the best chance of healing without complications. Your vet may need to sedate your dog to clean the wound properly and decide whether to close it, leave it open or drain it. Any medicine is the vet's decision.

Follow your vet's plan for cleaning and rechecks, and go back early if a wound smells, oozes or swells, because VCA notes that untreated bites can turn into abscesses or cellulitis.

The firmest published rules come from the United States, and they are not India's. The Merck Veterinary Manual, following the US National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, says a vaccinated dog exposed to rabies should be revaccinated and observed for 45 days, and that an unvaccinated dog should be put to sleep or kept in strict isolation for four to six months. We found no equivalent Indian rule for pet owners in the national guidelines we checked on 21 October 2026, so in India this is a decision you make with your vet.

That gap is one more reason to keep your dog's rabies vaccine current. The NCDC advises keeping rabies vaccinations up to date for every pet and supervising pets outdoors so they do not come into close contact with possibly rabid street animals. Your vet sets the timing, which WSAVA says follows local law and the licensed product.

Handling a bitten dog is a small but real risk, so be careful rather than worried. India's rabies guidelines treat licks on broken skin and saliva on the eyes, nose or mouth as exposures, as well as bites and scratches. Wear gloves when you clean or dress the wound, keep children from handling it, and wash your hands afterwards.

If your dog bites or scratches anyone in the weeks after, or its behaviour changes, that person should wash the wound and see a doctor the same day and mention the stray dog bite. The NCDC says every animal bite in India is treated as a possible rabies exposure, and that anti-rabies vaccine and serum are free at public health facilities.