Cats, dogs and even strays are part of daily life in Thibodaux. Most of the time, a scratch is no big deal — but not every scratch is harmless. Some carry bacteria that penetrate the skin and cause dangerous symptoms.
At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, we’ve often seen simple pet scratches evolve into serious infections. Here’s how to know when it’s safe to wait and when you need to get checked out.
How scratches cause trouble
When an animal’s claws or teeth break the skin, the bacteria they carry can cause a serious infection. Cat scratches in particular often carry Pasteurella, which the Cleveland Clinic warns can cause illness even in completely healthy people.
Unfortunately, dog scratches aren’t much better. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that dogs can carry Capnocytophaga, a rare but serious bacteria group known to cause blisters and vomiting, even escalating into sepsis if it enters the bloodstream.
Many scratches do heal on their own, but they can deteriorate quickly if they don’t. The key is knowing the symptoms to look for and acting before they get worse.
First steps to take after an animal scratch
According to the Mayo Clinic, proper first aid after a wound can reduce your risk of complications. Here’s what to do right away if you’ve been bitten or scratched:
- Wash your hands before touching the wound.
- Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth to stop any bleeding.
- Gently clean around the wound with mild soap.
- Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and cover with sterile gauze.
If the area becomes more swollen, red, or painful — and especially if you feel feverish — come to urgent care as soon as you can.
How to protect yourself from future issues
A little caution goes a long way. To lower your risk of infection or serious complications after a scratch, follow these simple steps:
- Keep your pets’ nails trimmed and avoid rough play.
- Wash scratches as soon as they happen.
- Don’t let pets lick open wounds.
- Stay current with your tetanus shots.
- Be cautious when handling unfamiliar animals.
Warning signs to take seriously
Although you can often treat minor scratches at home, you should go to urgent care if you notice:
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 to 15 minutes
- A wound that looks gaping or jagged — especially near a joint
- Redness, warmth, swelling, or streaks spreading outward from the scratch
- Fever, chills or swollen lymph nodes
- A scratch to higher-risk areas like the hands or face
- The animal was a stray, behaved strangely, or had an unknown vaccination status
- You have a medical condition that affects healing, like diabetes or poor circulation
When in doubt, let an urgent care medical provider take a closer look at it. Treating a potential infection early can make all the difference.
What urgent care can do for you
At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, we provide prompt, direct care for animal scratches and other minor wounds. During your visit, we may:
- Clean and wash the wound to remove bacteria and debris.
- Examine the injury for signs of deeper damage, especially to your tendons or nerves.
- Use imaging if needed to check for foreign bodies.
- Decide whether to close the wound or leave it open to heal safely.
- Prescribe antibiotics if there’s any sign of infection or risk of one developing.
Our goal is to help you heal cleanly and feel confident that the injury is truly on the mend.
Come to urgent care before it gets worse
Infections can move fast — but so do we. At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, we’re here to clean the wound, lower your risk of complications and make sure it heals the right way.
Walk-ins are welcome daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. We have convenient locations in Thibodaux, HoumaandGray, and most visits take less than an hour.
Visit your nearest clinic today and get that scratch examined.
