When to call your doctor

Seek medical care if your wound shows signs of infection, such as:

• Fever.
• Redness, swelling, warmth or increasing pain around the wound.
• Bad smell coming from the wound.
• Pus coming out of the wound.
• Red streaks around the wound or going up your arm or leg.

If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty, your health care professional may recommend a booster. You should have a booster shot within 48 hours of your injury.

If the wound was caused by a cat or a dog, try to confirm that its rabies vaccination is up to date. If it was caused by a wild animal, seek advice from your doctor about which animals are most likely to carry rabies.