my son got small incision with a stray puppy. does he have to take anti rabies injections?

Answer 1

If the dog is retrievable the local animal control can quarantine it. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of the infected animal. Your doctor can discuss with you whether your child needs the rabies vaccine. It is a painful process. Thankfully, the days of 8 or 12 shots in the abdomen are over. The actual vaccine itself isn't too bad anymore. I can't remember exactly but, I think their are 4 or 5 shots administered over approximately 1 month. They are each given after a specific period of time. However, when people are bitten by potentially infected animals, they are given a weight based dose of gamma globulin (sort of a big boost to the immune system for added protection). As much as possible of the gamma globulin is injected around the actual bite. The rest is administered intramuscularly just like a routine vaccine. The gamma globulin is given only with the first rabies shot. On that first day, depending on the size of the person, I have given up to 6 intramuscular injections because of the amount of gamma globulin. This part is a painful but, necessary part of the process.

Answer 2

Okay, I am speaking to you with first hand knowledge. I was terrified one day when my husband called and said we had to go to the emergency room. Well my son loves dogs and had been told not to go near a fence. . . unfortunately, the dog hates people and my son's hand couldn't move quick enough. The demon german shepherd guard dog bit my son's hand and sliced it open when my son pulled back. The cut was across the tope of his hand and about 3 inches or so long. The doctors treated the cut as they usually would, cleaning and antiseptic, but also did x-rays. Then the emergency room attendants notify the owners of the dog. You need to tell them the location of the dog, color, size, type, name of the dog. . . etc. Owner's of the dog or people you know that might know that information. They will do an "investigation" and put the dog under a controlled watch. If the dog is not confined, they will bring the dog in to undergo examination and if it isn't, they will pick up the dog and confine it at another location. This is where they watch for signs of rabies. The dog will be tested while being quarantined. You need to follow through with this. Don't think, oh it's ok. If you knew that for sure, you wouldn't be asking this question. But, for your child's sake, call the health department. It won't cost you anything. The charges to the owner of the dog are minimal when you consider that it is your child's well being we are talking about. Besides if the dog doesn't have an owner and it turns out the dog is in good health, the dog being picked up will only result in it having food and water and shelter and the possibility of being adopted. Do the right thing and report the information to the authorities. . . what if, god for bid, the dog has a nature of biting now. . . and you don't do anything and it was to get sick and bite another child?

Answer 3

If you can, have the dog checked for Rabies immediately. If the dog ran away and you have no access to it, your son must get the anti rabies injections - in my opinion. If your son gets Rabies it's 100% in-curable. It's your call, that's why I say in my opinion. The only way to know for sure that your son isn't at risk is to either get the dog tested, or as another responder suggested, watch the dog for 5 days. If you have no access to the dog, it's up to odds. Odds are your son won't be infected, but if it were my son, odds aren't good enough. I would want to know 100%. Thus, my opinion - get the anti rabies injections.

Answer 4

The CDC estimates that almost 5 million people a year are bitten by a dog in the United States, with as many as 800,000 people, more than half of them children, requiring medical attention for these dog bites and about a dozen people dying from dog bite injuries.

Although most dog bites aren't fatal, many do require medical attention. In addition to basic first aid and cleaning the wound, your child may need antibiotics, a tetanus shot, and/or rabies vaccination after a dog bite. You should seek immediate medical attention for multiple or serious bites, especially in younger children and bites that involve your child's head and neck.

Answer 5

Yes. For your peace of mind and to be on the safe side have him given anti rabies shots. You can never know stray dogs are more dangerous than house pets. they get in contacts with other stray dogs and are likely not to be vacinated.at all. Then observe the dog.

Answer 6

wash the wound with soap and water..if u can track the puppy for about 5 days...and if it is alive..no need to fear..if the puppy/dog has got rabies ..it will die in 5 days time..
clean the wound for secondary infections...
u could take the antirabies injection if the puppy dies due to rabies...else no need to worry

Answer 7

wash the wound with soap and water..if u can track the puppy for about 5 days...and if it is alive..no need to fear..if the puppy/dog has got rabies ..it will die in 5 days time..
clean the wound for secondary infections...
u could take the antirabies injection if the puppy dies due to rabies...else no need to worry

Answer 8

No Rabies shots. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than your child getting rabies.

Answer 9

What are the odds that a stray puppy will have rabies??????
My best bet is to have the Puppy tested if you still have the dogn if not, the odds are good.

Answer 10

it depends where u live. the incidence of rabies in most parts of the united states is extremely low, and the potential toxicity from treatment real. most docs adopt a wait and see attitude- however he needs to see his pediatrician re prophylactic antibiotics- although infection is less likely from a dog bite than a cat bite most docs would give a short course of oral antibiotics