Is it okay to be scratched by a dog? Is it okay to be scratched by a dog? The first thing to do is to treat the wound quickly and disinfect it adequately. It is necessary to get rabies vaccination for dog scratches because rabies virus is transmitted through mucous membranes, so if there is bleeding or mucous membrane damage from a dog scratch, you should get rabies vaccination. Rabies Exposure Grading Rabies exposure is graded into three levels: intact skin in contact with an animal or being licked is grade I; bare skin bites, or minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding are grade II; skin penetration, broken skin being licked or open wounds or mucous membranes being licked or exposed to bats is grade III.
