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Suggest Treatment After Being Bitten By A Dog
Question: My granddaughter was bit by a dog. It attacked her without provocation. It bit her finger and scratched her arms. She pulled its ears and hit its cheek and it ran away. There are five German shepards dogs in the town we live in that are registered. All have had their rabies shots. She does not remember if the dog was wearing a collar. She was treated by a doctor, and her mother has called the health department. Three days later two adult gentlemen saw a German shepard dog in the area, one block away, without a collar, acting nervous. What would you do if this was your daughter at this point? It's been 1 week tomorrow. She is on antibiotics.
Brief Answer:
post exposure prophylaxis might be needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the local health authorities should be asked. It depends on local rabies risk. Normally it is a rare event that the dog would have rabies. It would be very possible it she was bitten by a bat for example.
When the dog's condition is unknown post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended unless the local rabies incidence is very low. Post exposure consists of rigorous wound cleansing (too late for that), local administration of rabies immunoglobulin and vaccination on the deltoid (in a different site from the immunoglobulin). The vaccination should be done on days 0,3,7 and 14.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
post exposure prophylaxis might be needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the local health authorities should be asked. It depends on local rabies risk. Normally it is a rare event that the dog would have rabies. It would be very possible it she was bitten by a bat for example.
When the dog's condition is unknown post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended unless the local rabies incidence is very low. Post exposure consists of rigorous wound cleansing (too late for that), local administration of rabies immunoglobulin and vaccination on the deltoid (in a different site from the immunoglobulin). The vaccination should be done on days 0,3,7 and 14.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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