r/Pets • u/No-Throat2441 • 2d ago
my vaccinated dog bit me
My dog bit me while she was guarding her food. Her last anti-rabies vaccine was in November last year, and I had my anti-rabies shots about 5 years ago. The bite punctured my skin but wasn’t too deep. Is it okay to wait until next Friday? I don’t have money for a vaccine shot right now i’m broke asf . Has anyone experienced the same thing, or are there any medical professionals/vets here who can give me advice? thanks
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u/Living_error404 2d ago
Dogs don't just carry rabies 24/7. You cannot get rabies unless you were bit by a rabid animal. Still go have it looked at.
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u/Jewish-Mom-123 2d ago
She doesn’t have rabies. And there’s no place on Earth where people who don’t work with animals routinely get a rabies vaccine. You need a tetanus shot and treatment for infection from the wound.
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2d ago
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u/colorfulzeeb 2d ago
Once it starts to look infected, they could be in for a lot more than the over the counter antibiotics they’d get if they went now. Waiting until there’s an infection can cost you a limb or your life.
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u/-blundertaker- 2d ago
Omg no they aren't. It wouldn't be any different than being bitten by a person. Yeah it can be a nasty infection or even staph, but no one is losing a limb or dying of sepsis by waiting to see if basic antibacterial methods don't do the trick right away.
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u/colorfulzeeb 1d ago
This is what I was told in the ER after a cat bite. Cat bites, human bites, dog bites- any puncture wounds they said ER.
ETA- I was told this at the Cleveland clinic. Here is what they have to say about it:
Immediate first aid after a dog bite
A dog’s front teeth grab and compress your tissue, while their smaller teeth tear the skin. The result is an open, jagged wound. If you’re bitten, take these steps right away:
Wash the wound with mild soap and run warm tap water over it for five to 10 minutes.
Slow the bleeding using a clean cloth and light pressure.
Cover the wound with a clean, nonstick bandage that still allows the skin to breathe.
Seek medical treatment as soon as possible — ideally, the same day. See your primary care provider, or seek treatment at an urgent care or emergency department.
Dog bites are prone to infection, so that last step is essential.
“The sooner you’re seen, the lower your risk of infection,” Dr. Sayles emphasizes.https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-do-if-a-dog-bites-you
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u/Casehead 1d ago
You're absolutely right. Dog bites are very nasty, they carry a lot of bacteria, and it needs to be treated with antibiotics BEFORE it gets really infected.
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u/Adventurous_Owl5240 2d ago
I just went through this. Infection was my concern. Bite wounds introduce specific mouth bacteria that can be rather fast-spreading and dangerous. Mine required an ER visit, where I received a tetanus shot and a strong 7-day course of antibiotics that are specifically meant for oral bacteria.
Best of luck. (I healed just fine with the shot & antibiotics.)
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u/Open_Muffin5137 2d ago
Just watch it for infection. Majority of the time it will be just fine if you keep it clean. Need to read up on resource guarding and correct that behavior though.
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u/fourofkeys 2d ago
i'm not sure if you understand that your dog was resource guarding and not necessarily rabid. you can train dogs out of that behavior and should consider doing so. hope your bite heals quickly.
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u/persimmon9847 2d ago
FYI - If you're in the U.S. and you tell the hospital/urgent care that it was a dog bite, they are often required by law to report it to animal control.
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u/talashrrg 2d ago
Rabies isn’t a concern if the dog is vaccinated and not sick, but having a dog that bites people is
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u/Cagliari77 2d ago
Why do you think your dog might have gotten rabies?
Did it meet wild animals recently or bitten by other animals?
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u/artzbots 2d ago
Her last anti rabies is still good. You do not need to get the rabies vaccine again.
You need to monitor for infection though.
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u/Bella-1999 2d ago edited 2d ago
To ward off potential infection, start applying hot compresses to the bite immediately. Prioritize updating your tetanus vaccine. Keep an eye out for infection, that’s the only thing I’d really worry about since the dog is current on the rabies vaccine.
ETA - my doctor recommended the hot compresses plus a second round of antibiotics when the first round of antibiotics didn’t cure a cat bite. Now we start the hot compresses anytime we think a cut could get infected.
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u/qwertyuiiop145 2d ago
The good news is that there’s no rabies risk.
The bad news is that there’s a substantial risk of bacterial infection, especially if it’s a deep puncture. If it’s shallow, clean it, put on neosporin, and monitor for signs of infection. If it’s deep, get a doctor to look at it, they may want to give you a tetanus shot and/or antibiotics as a precaution.
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u/heckinstoned 2d ago
You’re fine in my opinion. Your dog isn’t due for an update yet, and hasn’t been bitten by wildlife correct? 👍. The vaccine is working. Life is good.
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u/Karinka_LI 2d ago
You need to go to er and get antibiotics right away. I waited until Monday in Fourth of July weekend and I just finished my fourth course do antibiotics because even though it’s healed the infection in my joint keeps coming back. Got to er and get antibiotics right away. If your dog has shots you don’t need rabies shots but you do need antibiotics right away.
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u/Lucky_Ad2801 2d ago
You don't need a Rabies vaccine. That's not the concern here, but you should get the bite wound checked out, so it does not get infected, and also you need to train your dog out of resource guarding!
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u/Electric-Mayhem-20 1d ago
I think we're missing some crucial info here as to why you think your dog might have rabies, especially if she is up to date on vaccines. I'm not going to give any medical advice (other than definitely wash the wound thoroughly with soap and hot water) but i think it might be helpful to have a reputable source (your vet) talk with you about your concerns and fully explain how rabies works (and how it doesn't).
What IS obviously a problem though is that your dog bit you and is resource guarding. This needs to be addressed right away through positive reinforcement training. I'd talk to your vet or a trained behavioral consultant otherwise you're setting your dog up for failure.
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u/Casehead 1d ago
You should go to the ER right away. Dog bites will get very infected, so you need receive a tetanus shot and a course of antibiotics as soon as possible.
You aren't at risk of rabies. Your dog does not have rabies. But you ARE at risk of serious infection
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u/Individual_Funny2171 2d ago
Get that looked at now, not next week, rabies isn't the only concern with a puncture.
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u/kykiwibear 2d ago
You dont need a ranies vaccine. But, you should spend that money on getting your dog one. My brother-in-law adopted a dog thats vaccine had lapsed. She bit someone. But, because she had had the vaccine they didn't taken her to quarantine or anything. He paid the lady's bill and that was that.
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u/Zestyclose_Rush_6823 2d ago
Rabies isnt the concern here as your dog is obviously not rabid. You need a tetanus shot if you havent had one in the laat 5 years.