Can humans, who've been potentially exposed to rabies virus, pass it to other humans & should I get the shots?

Question

While out for a walk, I was bitten by an unfamiliar neighborhood dog who's 1 year rabies vaccination expired in 03/05. He left a small scratch with a couple of spots that bled. I cleaned the wound with hydrogen peroxide and went to the E.R. I haven't had the rabies vaccination yet, though I had a tetanus shot and antibiotics were prescribed. The dog is confined to his house for 2 weeks to monitor behavior. I don't know the owner, so I don't know if he's going to be honest or not. I believe the dog is a weimereiner, which I understand are normally family friendly dogs. This one looked mean and bit me while I walked down the street. I wasn't even near his property. My doctor says my risk is very low, and is downplaying my need for the vaccination. I'm really torn because the shots take place over the course of a month and I'm about to go away for 10 days. I'm really freaked out about being stupid and dieing, but don't want to go through the pain, $, & wreck my vacation for nothing. Help!

Answer 1

If the dog was rabid I think you'd know it by now. Usually a neighborhood dog is safe ..the wild dogs that do not have homes are the ones they need to quarantine and test for rabies. If there was a worry your doc would have told you in no uncertain terms to get shots.Oh..and a rabid human has to actually bite you to give you rabies.

Answer 2

Your doctor is correct. Domesticated animals have a low risk of biting us and giving us rabies. Usually we worry about raccoons, fox, squirrels, and other wild animals that tend to harbor rabies. The dog will be monitored... and if you are worried about the honesty of the owner, make him accountable to the police. File a police report, and have the follow up with the dog. You will be fine.. please don't freak out.. and even if you go on vacation you can still get vaccines in other cities from different docs if the need be.

Answer 3

Your doctor is right. The odds that the dog was rabid is very small. Cases of rabies in humans are rare the United States, averaging one or two a year.

Typically though the dog would be quaratined in an animal shelter, not at the owner's home.

You may want to reassure yourself by asking the owner if the dog is eating and drinking normally. If it is, it's not sick. Rabies is like a lethal sore throat. The animal is afraid to swallow because of the pain. It won't drink, it won't eat, and it'll drool. It'll stagger and lose its balance. You'll know it's sick.

Answer 4

stop stressing this is someone family pet, i doubt seriously that you have gotten rabies which is extremely rare from a domesticate animal. I also doubt if a competent doctor would start the series of shots without the dog been tested as positive, after all there are risk to the rabies shot.

Answer 5

Let the dog be monitored. I was bitten by a stray cat when I was 17 and learned that you can't transmit the disease if you don't have the symptoms and you will know if the dog has rabies before you will show symptoms. The likelihood is very slim that you have it so try not to worry until you hear otherwise.

Answer 6

Rabies is passed on by saliva. The best thing you did was clean it and then go to the doctor. He is right, there is a very low possibility. Relax

Answer 7

Only if you get bitten by an infected human. So watch out for people who are foaming at the mouth, or who appear mad.

Answer 8

Yes rabies can be Passed if you bite someone while you have rabies.

Answer 9

Get the shots, if you have it, there's only a small window of time to treat it, don't wait fo it to be too late.

Answer 10

dude just get the shots your health and you people around you. just do