i put up the post a few days ago about possibly having to get an exemption for school for my tetanus booster. i haven't had one and my kids are unvaxed, including tetanus. i've researched and i've come to the conclusion that, if the wound bleeds, there's really no risk of getting tetanus. also, hydrogen peroxide will kill tetanus because it has oxygen in it.
that being said, yesterday while i was on the phone, my 2 yr old son started crying. it's the same cry he has when his sister takes a toy away from him, so i really didn't pay attention to it. he stopped after a minute or so but kept whining-- again, like he does when his sister isn't sharing. about 5-10 minutes i walked into the living room (where they were playing) and my daughter tells me that the bunny (we have 2 rabbits) bit her brother's finger, and that's why he was crying. i looked and, sure enough, he had a little red bite by his fingernail. it looked like it was going to start bleeding, even though it was very tiny, but never did. we didn't have any hydrogen peroxide, so i washed it with soap and water. today his finger tip looks irritated, but not super red or infected looking. and it's not sore-- i pinched it and he didn't flinch or pull back. so i don't think it's getting infected, just irritated.
my big concern though, is tetanus. they say that animal bites can carry tetanus because tetanus can live in feces and dirt and animals tend to eat feces and dirt sometimes.... but my rabbits have always been indoor animals. i'm not sure if that plays a part, but i'm sure it does.
so my question is, if your child doesn't have his/her tetanus shot, would you get him/her it if they were bit by your family pet and it broke the skin?
First of all who is "they" when you say "they said this or they said that"? And are your rabbits dirty or kept in clean cages? You can't believe everything 'they" say.. a lot of it is fearmongering and scare tactics... i really doubt there are tetanus spores all over your house and no one has contracted tetanus so far, right? And getting the vax AFTER the injury is a moot point as it provides NO protection at all from the injury nor does it prevent tetanus.... there are less than 100 cases a year of tetanus in the USA and most of those are elderly who are at risk, and drug abusers, from using dirty needles.
I wouldn't worry about it at all...i have 4 kids, 3 unvaxed from the last 19yrs now, and nothing has ever happened or befelled our family from my decision.
the "they" i refer to are the "doctors" (in quotations because who knows if they really are) on the webpages i've read about tetanus vaccines. and you bring up a good point-- how IS the vaccine supposed to help if you're already exposed? does it kill the virus?
Quoting emmy526:First of all who is "they" when you say "they said this or they said that"? And are your rabbits dirty or kept in clean cages? You can't believe everything 'they" say.. a lot of it is fearmongering and scare tactics... i really doubt there are tetanus spores all over your house and no one has contracted tetanus so far, right? And getting the vax AFTER the injury is a moot point as it provides NO protection at all from the injury nor does it prevent tetanus.... there are less than 100 cases a year of tetanus in the USA and most of those are elderly who are at risk, and drug abusers, from using dirty needles.
I wouldn't worry about it at all...i have 4 kids, 3 unvaxed from the last 19yrs now, and nothing has ever happened or befelled our family from my decision.
i guess i'm just at war with myself because i can't help but think that, if something were to happen, it would be my fault. if i don't get him the vaccine and he gets really sick, i'll blame myself. if i get him the vaccine and he gets really sick, i'll blame myself. it's a catch 22 :/
both my son and i are allergic to penicillin, so i'm hoping they'd have an alternitive medicine.
Quoting kitty8199:
Rabbits can't cause tetanus from what I just looked up. Remember it lives in poop, and killed by oxygen. A rabbits mouth is exposed to oxygen. I would go get antibiotics if it looks infected. Penicillin kills tetanus so you won't have to worry.
Quoting momma_gig:both my son and i are allergic to penicillin, so i'm hoping they'd have an alternitive medicine.
Quoting kitty8199:
Rabbits can't cause tetanus from what I just looked up. Remember it lives in poop, and killed by oxygen. A rabbits mouth is exposed to oxygen. I would go get antibiotics if it looks infected. Penicillin kills tetanus so you won't have to worry.
i didn't put anything on it... just washed it good with soap and water. i'm probably going to put some ointment on it now, though, because it's starting to get red :/
and a squirrel? LOL how did you manage that?? :P
Quoting kitty8199:
I wouldn't be worried if you cleaned it and put ointment on it. Tetanus wouldn't concern me. I got bit by a squirrel. They asked if I was UTD on my tetanus. I was at the time. One of the drs I worked with laughed when I got back. (Out of town). He said it isn't a concern.
Quoting momma_gig:both my son and i are allergic to penicillin, so i'm hoping they'd have an alternitive medicine.
Quoting kitty8199:
Rabbits can't cause tetanus from what I just looked up. Remember it lives in poop, and killed by oxygen. A rabbits mouth is exposed to oxygen. I would go get antibiotics if it looks infected. Penicillin kills tetanus so you won't have to worry.
i was raking last week at my new place. i live on the grounds of an equestrian club. the rake i was using was chapped wood and i got a blister that immediately broke open [ow, it hurt].. should i be worried? ive had a TIG about 15 years ago
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Head Start turned us away. Question
- momma_gig
on Feb. 16, 2012 at 10:12 PM