Q. Our dog stepped on a rusty nail. We got it out, put hydrogen peroxide on the wound, and kept her off her foot for most of the day. Can dogs get tetanus from a nail?
A. This is a great question. Why do humans get tetanus vaccinations on a regular basis, but dogs do not?
Dogs (and cats) are very resistant to the effects of the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which causes lockjaw, or tetanus, in humans after it gets established in wounds. There are a few reports of lockjaw in dogs, but it is rare.
Just so you know, horses, and cattle other livestock are susceptible, and should be vaccinated on a regular basis.