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Should I Take Rabies Vaccination After A Vaccinated Dog Bite?
Question: Hi Doctor
I have recently adopted a dog puppy. He was 40 days old when we adopted him and now he is 81 days old. He was vaccinated for Rabies on 20.05.2014. Today he has bitten me. Is it necessary for me to get injections for Rabies. My Vet says, even if the puppy was not vaccinated, puppies have natural immunity against Rabies. He also says that puppies do bite due to teething and getting Rabies injections to owners is not required. I am confused hence seeking your opinion.
Thanking You
XXXXXX
I have recently adopted a dog puppy. He was 40 days old when we adopted him and now he is 81 days old. He was vaccinated for Rabies on 20.05.2014. Today he has bitten me. Is it necessary for me to get injections for Rabies. My Vet says, even if the puppy was not vaccinated, puppies have natural immunity against Rabies. He also says that puppies do bite due to teething and getting Rabies injections to owners is not required. I am confused hence seeking your opinion.
Thanking You
XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Vaccination iis required
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day
Dear Mr XXXXX,
Let me first clear your myth. Dogs have no natural immunity against Rabies.
Although unvaccinated animals are more likely to transmit rabies, vaccinated animals can also do so if the vaccination of the biting animal was ineffective for any reason. A history of rabies vaccination in an animal is not always a guarantee that the biting animal is not rabid. Animal vaccine failures may occur because of improper administration or poor quality of the vaccine, poor health status of the animal, and the fact that one vaccine dose does not always provide long-lasting protection against infection in dogs.
Rabies is a disease with 100% mortality(death is for sure if one gets it). Risk of vaccination are very less compared to its benefits. So its advisable to get vaccinated.
I would suggest you 3 doses
1. Day 0(on day of bite or as soon as possible)
2. Day 3
3. Day 7
If the dog is okay even after 10 days and is not behaving abnormally then further doses of vaccination can be withheld.
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take Care
Best Regards
Dr Deepak Kishore
MBBS,MS,MCH
Consultant Surgeon
Vaccination iis required
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day
Dear Mr XXXXX,
Let me first clear your myth. Dogs have no natural immunity against Rabies.
Although unvaccinated animals are more likely to transmit rabies, vaccinated animals can also do so if the vaccination of the biting animal was ineffective for any reason. A history of rabies vaccination in an animal is not always a guarantee that the biting animal is not rabid. Animal vaccine failures may occur because of improper administration or poor quality of the vaccine, poor health status of the animal, and the fact that one vaccine dose does not always provide long-lasting protection against infection in dogs.
Rabies is a disease with 100% mortality(death is for sure if one gets it). Risk of vaccination are very less compared to its benefits. So its advisable to get vaccinated.
I would suggest you 3 doses
1. Day 0(on day of bite or as soon as possible)
2. Day 3
3. Day 7
If the dog is okay even after 10 days and is not behaving abnormally then further doses of vaccination can be withheld.
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take Care
Best Regards
Dr Deepak Kishore
MBBS,MS,MCH
Consultant Surgeon
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you doctor
I got my my injection already
I have following questions:
1) How long these injection will continue to safeguard me from further bites in future?
2) My family (wife & adult daughter) are not getting convinced about need for injections as my sister-in-law (who has been owning dogs for more than 15 years) that pet pups do bite and injections for human not required. I am worried as they are also prone to bites as the pup is chewing on lags regularly. what should I do?
Thanks a lot
XXXXXX
I got my my injection already
I have following questions:
1) How long these injection will continue to safeguard me from further bites in future?
2) My family (wife & adult daughter) are not getting convinced about need for injections as my sister-in-law (who has been owning dogs for more than 15 years) that pet pups do bite and injections for human not required. I am worried as they are also prone to bites as the pup is chewing on lags regularly. what should I do?
Thanks a lot
XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Explained in detail
Detailed Answer:
Namasthe
Pets which have been with the family for ore than couple of months and are not in contact with other potential rabid animals and are adequately immunized : bites by such animals do not need rabies prophylaxis.
As you have recently adopted the puppy, hence prophylaxis is indicated.
Managing re-exposure following post-exposure : If reexposed,
persons who have previously received full post-exposure prophylaxis
(either by IM or ID route) with a potent cell-culture vaccine should now be given
only two booster doses, intramuscularly (0.5ml/1ml)/intra-dermally (0.1 ml at
1 site) on days 0 and 3.
If you puppy is not in contact with other animals and is regularly immunized as per recommendation of Veternary surgeon , then bite by puppy will not require immunization. Every individual exposure has to be re-evaluated.
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance.
Take Care
Regards
Dr Deepak
Explained in detail
Detailed Answer:
Namasthe
Pets which have been with the family for ore than couple of months and are not in contact with other potential rabid animals and are adequately immunized : bites by such animals do not need rabies prophylaxis.
As you have recently adopted the puppy, hence prophylaxis is indicated.
Managing re-exposure following post-exposure : If reexposed,
persons who have previously received full post-exposure prophylaxis
(either by IM or ID route) with a potent cell-culture vaccine should now be given
only two booster doses, intramuscularly (0.5ml/1ml)/intra-dermally (0.1 ml at
1 site) on days 0 and 3.
If you puppy is not in contact with other animals and is regularly immunized as per recommendation of Veternary surgeon , then bite by puppy will not require immunization. Every individual exposure has to be re-evaluated.
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance.
Take Care
Regards
Dr Deepak
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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