Can Dog Scratches Transmit Bartonella?

My daughter's dogs were visiting today and her lab jumped up on me and put several paw scratches down my arm. I already have bartonella so I don't know why I worry but I do because I am paranoid even with my own dog. I cleaned the scratches but am wondering if the scratches have to draw blood to transmit disease.

I hate what these diseases have done to me psychologically and the worrying.

Thanks Traveler. Yes my brain creates so much of my own anxiety. I am already feeling funny and I know it is my crazy mind going off on the worst possible scenario. It makes me sad that I have come to the point where I can't relax at all or enjoy animals.

Hoping to put your mind at ease a little, I spoke extensively to my vet about TBDs (both because I was working with dogs when I contracted lyme and as the doctors said lyme doesn't exist here while the vet was busy treating pooches for TBDs, he was a little more informed, lol).

He stated that while it is possible to get infected with lyme and co via ticks and fleas from dogs and also believes bites that draw blood can be an issue (even if lower risk in his opinion) scratches from them are only a concern as far as 'regular' infection.

He did point out, as Traveler said, that an infection on top of the lyme and co could hit hard due to the body already fighting the lyme infection and a lowered immune system, so measures should be taken in that respect. (In my case it was a dog hair getting stuck like a spelk that caused a massive infection where one shouldn't have happened, but that was before I knew I had lyme or started any treatment).

But he was quite sure you couldn't contract bart or lyme from dogs nail scratches.

This is good info. I was walking out puppy and one of my fingers got cut by a puppy tooth and we were walking through woods and I was feeling paranoid about bug dropping on me because I forgot my hat!

I had the pup vaccinated for lyme, so I don't know if that would help me. I cleaned the tooth scratch as soon as I got home. I know he hasn't had any ticks or fleas, but I did worry.

Post Edited (Kat1000) : 3/28/2017 8:56:43 AM (GMT-6)

I think that generally from a scratch, that we are more in danger of a secondary infection, not a reinfection of Lyme or Bart. A bite would be different though, as they are generally deeper.

But, here's the thing, if you are already in treatment, then you are already doing all you can do. So, no need to worry yourself sick about it.

It wasn't a bite, more of a scratch. He grabbed too hard at a treat and still has a puppy tooth, so he got my finger. It wasn't too deep, but it did bleed. I go back to LLMD soon so will mention it. I've been working on this with the puppy, but when he's excited he sometimes forgets.

I was also going back and forth about which tick treatment to use too. I decided on topical because that is supposed to kill ticks/fleas on contact as opposed to the ingested kind, which requires them to bite the dog to get the stuff. So with the topical, they are less likely to transport a tick. He's not outside that much anyway, so more of a concern during a wooded walk.

I agree with Silly Sheep - topicals still require the tick/flea/bug to bite for it to be effective.

Yes, side effects can occur, though side effects from frontline can also include swelling particularly of the face, lips and tongue, rash or hives, lethargy, vomiting or severe/lengthy diarrhoea, excessive salivation, uncoordinated movements, seizure, unresponsiveness or coma - although these tend to occur from overdosing (more often from a dog who is on the bottom end of the treatment dosage guidelines)

Only one of my dogs had an allergic reaction to Frontline (hives and swelling round his neck). Unfortunately Frontline is now completely ineffective on fleas where we are Since we have roaming dogs and cats not to mention goats, sheep, and other interesting critters wandering everywhere (and it is a wooded area) mine need treatment pretty much year round for fleas and ticks are a MASSIVE problem in the spring. Urgh!

Citronella is a good natural repellent.

Post Edited (silly sheep) : 3/28/2017 1:37:12 PM (GMT-6)