Animal bites require fast, effective treatment, especially if you are unable to confirm that the animal is up to date on its rabies shots. If there’s even a small risk of the animal being rabid, your healthcare provider will take steps to protect you against the virus — a protocol known as post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP.
PEP starts with extensive washing and local treatment of the wound, but also includes doses of rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin (HRIG).
When given in time, PEP can stop the rabies virus from entering the central nervous system and, in turn, prevent the onset of rabies symptoms. It’s the only treatment strategy known to prevent rabies-related deaths.