Can I get infected if a dog scratches me?

Q: I am a 53 years old diabetic. There are three dogs in the building where I live and I usually take care of them. They have been vaccinated against Rabies. Sometimes, they put my arm in their mouth or lick my feet and I get minor scratches from their unkempt nails. Would this create any medical complication for me?

A:As a diabetic, your feet are very vulnerable to infection. Therefore, avoid saliva coming into contact with even minor wounds. Rabies is transmitted by a bite usually with transmission of infection into tissue damaged by the bite.