[Help] Bitten by Dog; Need Tetanus Shot? Safety w Lyme?

Hey guys, need some quick advice - I've just been bitten by a pet dog. Small bleeding puncture wounds but not too serious - Not sure if the dog is up to date with injections though etc.

I've been advised by medical staff helpline that its recommended that I get a Tetanus shot. Im pretty sure i've had a tetanus shot in my childhood (im in my early 20's now); though it was still recommended to get another. Only this time round, I have Lyme+Co.

I'm concerned about the safety regarding the interactions between tetanus and Lyme+Co. Does anyone have any input on this? I'm doing around 75-80% better but ultra worried about riling lyme up or adverse reactions.

Thanks so much in advance.

I would get the tetanus shot.

Without getting into broader vaccine questions, I think it's important to get the tetanus vaccine every ten years, as recommended. I got the tetanus-only vaccine last year, and while I did experience negative side effects for a week (headache, nerve pain along spine, fatigue), I am glad to have the protection. (I react horribly to everything, so I was terrified. But tetanus is not a live vaccine and therefore less likely to cause issues.)

Tetanus bacteria is everywhere, so there is no population or geographic location at lower risk. That said, there's no reason to think that the dog had tetanus any more than a stick or rock or anything else that might cut you. Most adults do not keep up with their boosters, yet tetanus remains very rare.

When people get tetanus, treatment requires hospitalization and tetanus immunoglobulin, not just antibiotics, so if tetanus is not something you have been vaccinated against within ten years, I'd say go for the vaccine. But if you are in a particularly bad place immunologically or in terms of your muscle and nerve symptoms, then it's probably fine to wait.

I got the tetanus vaccine (not in combination with diphtheria and pertussis) at the CVS Minute Clinic. You can walk in and ask for what you want, no questions asked. Might be worth calling first, if that's what you want, to see what's available.

Just saw this! Thanks for the heads up on the other thread, 1000Daisies.

I'll look for my paperwork. You certainly could be right, that it might have been the Td. Even if the Minute Clinic did offer the tetanus vaccine by itself a year ago when I was there, I just called and they do not offer it by itself now (now it's combined with diphtheria or diphtheria and pertussis). Sorry for the confusion!

I had a dog bite during my lyme treatment. I had the tetanus/dtap shot and was fine.

Now that I recall it, I had tetanus and Tdap with no problems, they were paired something like was described above. I still don't know what to think anymore about vaccines though, have to research it as I pretty much consider myself immune-compromised.