Stray dogs near the beach, cats at the pousada, monkeys on a hiking trail, a bat in the room at night: animals are part of travelling in Brazil, and most encounters are harmless. If you have an animal bite in Brazil, or a scratch or lick on broken skin, this guide explains what to do in the first minutes, why rabies is the reason not to wait, where to go and what the health service will decide.
Quick answer: wash the wound right away with plenty of soap and water for at least 15 minutes and get medical care the same day, in person (WHO). Do not wait until you are back home (NHS). In Brazil, the rabies prevention plan after an exposure is prescribed by a doctor or nurse, who decides whether you need the vaccine and/or serum (Brazilian Ministry of Health). A large or deep wound, or bleeding you cannot stop, is an emergency: call 192 (SAMU).
Why an animal bite in Brazil needs attention: rabies
Rabies is a viral disease spread through the saliva of infected mammals, usually by bites or scratches, or by contact with the eyes, mouth or an open wound (WHO). Once symptoms appear it is virtually always fatal, but it can be prevented with prompt care after the exposure (WHO).
According to the CDC, dogs infected with rabies are sometimes found in Brazil, and rabies is also common in some wildlife species and in bats; rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of the country if an exposure happens (CDC). The WHO notes that in the Americas, blood-feeding bats are now the main source of human rabies (WHO).
Rabies is not the only concern. A bite can also become infected, and the health professional will check your risk of tetanus (NHS).
What to do right after an animal bite or scratch
- Wash the wound immediately with plenty of soap and water for at least 15 minutes (WHO), carefully, without making the injury worse (Ministry of Health).
- If it is bleeding heavily, press a dry dressing or clean cloth firmly on the wound (NHS).
- Get medical care as soon as possible, in person, the same day (Ministry of Health). Treatment after an exposure is time-sensitive and only works before symptoms appear.
- Note what happened: the type of animal, where and when, whether it was a pet with an owner or a stray, and whether it looked ill or behaved strangely. This helps the doctor or nurse assess the risk.
- If it was a dog or cat that can be found, the Ministry of Health advises, when possible, observing the animal for 10 days; if it falls ill, disappears or dies in that period, tell the health service immediately (Ministry of Health).
Where to go in Brazil after an animal bite
Go to an in-person health service the same day: a UPA 24h emergency unit or a hospital emergency room. There, a doctor or nurse examines the wound and, if needed, prescribes the rabies prevention plan, indicating the vaccine and/or the serum (Ministry of Health). They may also clean the wound thoroughly, decide whether to close it or leave it open, and decide whether you need treatment to prevent infection or tetanus (NHS).
Even if you were vaccinated against rabies before the trip, you still need care after an exposure (WHO; NHS). If you have travel insurance, contact its assistance line too, so it can direct you to a service it covers; see what to check in travel insurance for Brazil.
When to call 192 (SAMU) or go to the emergency room
- the wound is large or deep, or you cannot stop the bleeding (NHS);
- part of a finger, ear or other body part was torn off (NHS);
- swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing;
- confusion, drowsiness or fainting.
In these situations call 192 (SAMU), the public emergency ambulance service, or go to the nearest emergency room. More in what to do in a medical emergency in Brazil.
Signs of infection in the following days
After the first care, seek medical help again if the bite becomes hot or swollen, more painful or red, if fluid leaks from it or it smells unpleasant, or if you have a high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery (NHS). Bites on the hands, feet, face or head also deserve prompt assessment (NHS).
Rabies symptoms usually take weeks to appear, but can appear after a few days or many months; early signs include numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched (NHS). Any of these after a contact with an animal requires urgent in-person care.
Can an online doctor help after an animal bite?
An online consultation does not replace the in-person care you need after a bite, scratch or lick from an animal that could have rabies: the vaccine and serum are given in person, and the decision about them is made by the health service that examines you. Where a video consultation in English or Spanish can help is in the days that follow: understanding what you were told at the UPA or hospital, checking whether a wound that is healing slowly needs to be seen again, or getting general guidance for other health problems during the trip. The doctor always decides whether online care is enough or whether you should be examined in person.
How an online consultation with PresençaMed International works
- Book and pay on the website: choose a time on the booking page. One price per consultation: US$ 50, by card (international cards accepted) or Pix. No CPF needed; your passport details are enough.
- At the time you chose, the doctor contacts you on WhatsApp and starts the video call.
- The consultation is in English or Spanish, every day from 8am to 10pm Brazil time (GMT-3), with a physician registered with the CRM.
- If the doctor considers it appropriate, prescriptions and documents are sent by e-mail. Most prescriptions are digital, including Brazil's blue (B1) and yellow (A) forms — PresençaMed already issues them digitally. B2 prescriptions are not issued.
A prescription is never guaranteed in advance: it always depends on the doctor's assessment, and sometimes the right recommendation is an in-person examination. Questions before booking? Use the form on our frequently asked questions page (please do not include clinical details there; health data is shared only in the consultation, under medical confidentiality and Brazil's data protection law).
Telehealth is authorised throughout Brazil, and the doctor can always decide that in-person care is needed (Brazilian telehealth law). See also how the public health system works for foreigners in Brazil.
How to avoid animal bites in Brazil
- do not touch or feed animals you do not know, including monkeys on trails and stray dogs and cats (CDC);
- keep away from dogs and cats without an owner, especially when they are eating, with puppies or kittens, or sleeping (Ministry of Health);
- never touch bats or wild animals, especially if they are on the ground or acting strangely (Ministry of Health); if you wake up in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately (CDC);
- do not let animals lick open wounds, and keep animal saliva away from your eyes and mouth (CDC);
- before a long trip, or one with a lot of outdoor activity or contact with animals, ask a travel health clinic whether rabies vaccination before travel makes sense for you (NHS; CDC).
Frequently asked questions about animal bites in Brazil
Is a scratch enough to need care?
Yes, it can be. Rabies can be transmitted by bites, scratches or licks from an infected animal (Ministry of Health). The NHS advises getting medical help immediately if you are bitten or scratched by an animal while abroad.
The dog looked healthy. Do I still need to go?
Yes. Animals with rabies may not show any symptoms (NHS). In dogs and cats, the virus can be in the saliva 2 to 5 days before the animal shows signs of illness (Ministry of Health).
I had the rabies vaccine before the trip. Do I still need care?
Yes. Pre-exposure vaccination does not replace care after an exposure, although it usually simplifies it (WHO; Ministry of Health).
Can I wait until I get home?
No. The NHS advises getting medical help as soon as possible while abroad, without waiting to return home. If you are treated in Brazil, tell your doctor about it when you get back (CDC).
Can a rodent bite transmit rabies?
According to the WHO, bites from rodents are not known to transmit rabies. Any bite can still become infected, so wash it and have it checked if it does not look right.
Already seen in person and still have questions? Book an online consultation
Book your online consultation with a physician registered with the CRM, in English or Spanish, by video, every day from 8am to 10pm Brazil time. US$ 50 per consultation. Any prescription, certificate or report depends on the doctor's assessment.
Medical review: Dr. Marcelo R. Luján, Physician, CRM-SC 42.900, postgraduate in Family and Community Medicine (UNIFESP). Technical director of PresençaMed (Lujan e Perazolo Pera Serviços Médicos LTDA, CRM-SC PJ 14623). This content is general information and does not replace an individual consultation. Intense symptoms, or symptoms that worsen quickly, require in-person care or an emergency service (call 192, SAMU).