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8 Weeks Old Puppy Bites On Finger. Can I Get Rabies From This ?
My 8 weeks Old Puppy Bites my Finger (Mild Injury). Can I get RABIES from this? I have a very healthy and energetic German Spitz puppy (Name: Oscar) who is just 55 Days(8 Weeks) old. Today while playing with him I got a mild bite on my right middle finger. Its a very small and shallow injury (3 mm cut) and there was a very minor bleeding. I immediately washed my hand with an anti-septic liquid(soap) and applied Betadin® (Providone Iodine) anti-septic cream on the cut. Oscar my puppy got his First Shot of Novibac® Puppy DP vaccine (in India for fighting Canine Distemper & Parvo Virus) a week ago but never got any shot for Rabies yet(too young for anti rabies vaccination). He seems to be normal(playing. eating. drinking) so far. He NEVER got close to any other animal/pets so far and never even walked/exercised outside(garden/yard). Now I am little concerned about the Rabies thing. My questions are 1) Is there any possibilities I could get Rabies from this bite ? 2) Should I get myself Anti-Rabies shots (PEP) right away? or, I should observe my pup for another 10 days for any Rabies symptoms to appear and then opt for vaccination? Please suggest something. I am really worried.
Sat, 30 Mar 2013
Hello!
Thanks for writing to HCM.
Yes,you need immunization with anti-rabies vaccine and tetanus toxoid injection.
Though the risk of rabies infection is very less in this case but rabies is a deadly infection once someone gets it mortality is 100%. Also immunity to rabies starts after 7 days of first dose hence it will late to observe for 10 days.Hence it is better to go for immunization.
Hence visit to the doctor for immunization and observe the dog for 10 days for symptoms of rabies.
You will require total 5 injections of anti-rabies vaccine on day 0,3,7,14 and 30 and one T.T. injection if you have not received booster dose in last 5-10 years.
Get your dog immunized for rabies with repeat doses to be given annually.
Though there will be controversies in vaccination in this case but i would prefer to go for vaccination as it comes category 2 of dog bite.
Hope this could help you.
Thanks for writing to HCM.
Yes,you need immunization with anti-rabies vaccine and tetanus toxoid injection.
Though the risk of rabies infection is very less in this case but rabies is a deadly infection once someone gets it mortality is 100%. Also immunity to rabies starts after 7 days of first dose hence it will late to observe for 10 days.Hence it is better to go for immunization.
Hence visit to the doctor for immunization and observe the dog for 10 days for symptoms of rabies.
You will require total 5 injections of anti-rabies vaccine on day 0,3,7,14 and 30 and one T.T. injection if you have not received booster dose in last 5-10 years.
Get your dog immunized for rabies with repeat doses to be given annually.
Though there will be controversies in vaccination in this case but i would prefer to go for vaccination as it comes category 2 of dog bite.
Hope this could help you.
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