I was holding a stray male that hangs out in my yard. Bruiser has been coming around for 6 months now. Bruiser always looks ok. He eats and drinks like a champ.
About 12 days ago I was holding him, rubbing his side. A car made a loud noise and he bit my hand.
I'd say the bites were as deep as a pinprick with 1 drop of blood from one or two of the 4 fang marks. I washed/disinfected within 15 minutes.
3 days later Bruiser was sick. His jaw was swollen and he had a scratch/cut under his chin. It was gone by Monday. 3 days later.
He still comes around. For the first 2 days of his cut he did not eat much and slept alot. Now he is old Bruiser again.
He has not shown signs of sickness. Yet.
Should I go get the Rabies vaccine or let it go because the wounds were very superficial?
I am honestly terrified.
Any advice anyone?
2006-11-11 07:03:23 · 7 answers · asked by Spay-n-Neuter-Your-Pets 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Thanks everyone! I felt the same way. If Bruiser has not (since the bite) 1 1/2 weeks ago gotten very sick I felt like I'd be ok. I have been watching the scratch like a hawk for any weird signs. So far so good.
It is very scary to go through. Even if you are ok it really does a number on your emotions!
I know I should not feed/hold stray cats but I am so sad by all of the strays in my city. It is a epidemic according to the city pound.
ALOT of beautifull & friendly cats/kittens/doggy's are put to sleep each month. There are not enough people to adopt them all. Maybe if you take 5 a piece.
Ha-Ha.. I actually hung up a whole bunch of signs that talk about why it is important to spay/neuter/vaccinate their pets.
Hopefully people will listen.
Thanx everyone I am going to call a doctor tomorrow and explain the situation and follow their advice.
Have a great one everyone! :)
2006-11-11 12:40:15 · update #1
No you do not have rabies, if the dog is not symptomatic now (and you would know, rabies is very rapidly progressing) then it did not have the virus then and you would not have contracted it. If in the next couple of days the dog becomes symptomatic (foaming at the mouth, extreme aggrasiveness) then I would go to the hospital but for now you are fine. That being said, you need to let stray dogs be in the future...
mcc_md@yahoo.com for follow up if you would like
2006-11-11 07:23:16 · answer #1 · answered by M.C. Clarence, M.D. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Odds are that if ol' Bruiser is fine then you are too.
If you're worried, before you go for anti-rabies shots, I'd have a vet look at the cat.
I'm sure Bruiser just got startled...reflex action.
2006-11-11 15:13:58 · answer #2 · answered by Jack 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't be asking here if you're terrified about a thing like rabies. You should ask a doctor, a vet, or the local public health authority what to do. Rabies progresses slowly, so you can be vaccinated after you were bitten. The animal should be held for observation.
2006-11-11 15:41:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think if they have rabie, they would be foaming at the mouth but yes, if needs his rabie vaccine please get the prevent from actually getting rabies.
2006-11-11 15:11:56 · answer #4 · answered by Uchihaitachi345 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd have it checked out to be on the safe side
2006-11-11 15:42:48 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ummmmmmm.u should take the rabies shot. just so ur siblings wont cry after u get a really dangerous desease.
2006-11-11 15:09:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
I would get checked out.
2006-11-11 15:11:07 · answer #7 · answered by Barry G 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋