I think it depends not only in what state you live in, but also where and how the bite happened. The one time I got bit by a cat at work, I just cleaned it up best I could, went on with my day, then went home. Next morning (of course on a Sunday when my reg. dr. is not in) my finger had swelled to over twice it's normal size and hurt like the dickens! When I went to the ER they asked very specific questions and the only one that interested them was when I said it happened at work, that made them perk up. No animal control officer was contacted, but then again I work for a vet hospital and the head vet took care of informing the owner of the cat that I had been bit and instructed him to quarantien the cat for 10 days, (of course we had the advantage of having a vaccination history of knowing the cat was current with it's rabies vaccination.

Quote Originally Posted by Freedom
Your doctor may give you a shot(s), I can't remember what it was for. I am thinking tetanus, but that's not right, that's for metal deposits.
Sandra
Tetnus is a bacterial infection, and that is exactly the shot I recieved at the ER for my cat bite. Tetnus bacteria can live in soil and on old dirty rusty nails etc. which is probably why you thought it was for metal deposits.

FROM THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC)

Tetanus occurs worldwide but is most frequently encountered in densely populated regions in hot, damp climates with soil rich in organic matter. Reservoir Organisms are found primarily in the soil and intestinal tracts of animals and humans. Mode of TransmissionTransmission is primarily by contaminated wounds (apparent and inapparent). The wound may be major or minor. In recent years, however, a higher proportion of patients had minor wounds, probably because severe wounds are more likely to be properly managed. Tetanus may follow elective surgery, burns, deep puncture wounds, crush wounds, otitismedia (ear infections), dental infection, animal bites, abortion, and pregnancy. Almost all reported cases of tetanus are in persons who have either never been vaccinated, or who completed a primary series but have not had a booster in the preceding 10 years.