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Rabies questions do I need to get PEP?

Hello.

I recently had a small bite from a friend dog (9yrs old, female, shiz tzu) about 7 days ago. It was my first time encountering a dog bite and I am kind of worried. I have read few articles and I now have pretty good idea but I would like to ask couple questions to make sure the dog and I does not need to seek medical attention.

The dog which I believe she had vaccine regularly and most recent vaccine paper dates 8/3/2016, 'killed' as vaccine type, and Zoetis as manufacturer. Dog is house dog lives in apartment.

I have few questions and I would really appreciate if you could please answer for me.

1. Should I be concern with possible Rabies?
2. Ultimately, if dog is fine after 3 more days. I do not need to see doctor, right? 3.Would there be failure of this protocol?
4. Can dog have Rabies and live perfectly fine? Even if dog dies on 14th day, I am fine? Ultimately I guess what I am trying to ask is do I need a PEP for this incident.

Thank you!
2 Responses
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441382 tn?1452810569
If the dog is vaccinated, lives indoors and is in good health, the chances that it has rabies are extremely minute.  Truthfully, I would worry more about getting a tetanus shot if yours is not up to date than I would about rabies.  This is a shih tzu, it's not a dog that runs loose fighting with other dogs, killing and eating small animals like rats, mice and other vermin.  
A dog (or any animal) can only pass along the rabies virus if they are sick.  When they are physically showing symptoms is when they are shedding the virus in their saliva.  If the dog, heaven forbid, should die of ANYTHING before the 14 day quarantine is up, have the vet remove the dog's head and send it to the laboratory that your state or country uses to test for infectious diseases to make sure that it died from something other than rabies.  The worst that can happen (and there is only an EXTREMELY tiny chance of this) is that IF the lab determines that the dog died from rabies, you will need to get the prophylactic vaccinations.  If all is fine after day 14, go about your business and don't worry.  From what you have told us, however, the chances are pretty much nil of this dog being sick.

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi Ghilly,

Thank you so much for your input. I am so much in comfort after reading your comment. It just pass 2 weeks since bite actually 16th day today and dog is fine. I am sure I do not need to seek doc for PEP. As far as teneus shot goes, I had one from 4 years ago when I had some stitches done on my finger. Thank you again!
974371 tn?1424653129
If this is a domestic dog, in good health and vaccinated, I feel confident in telling you that you do not have to worry about Rabies.  That being said, any animal bite can become infected so you need to watch for infection (red, swollen, pus, etc) keep it clean and should it look infected, have your doctor check it.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi Margot, thank you for your reply. I believe I do not have an infection from the bite. Thing that got me worried was rabies because I did not know much about it until now.
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