My new dog bumped my sister's mouth. Should I worry about rabies?

Question

I have taken in a dog that was wandering my neighborhood. He has had a home recently, as he still had a collar, and he has been trained enough to know basic commands. While playing with my sister tonight, his tooth bumped her mouth, and now she’s concerned about the potential of rabies. He looks healthy, has no wounds on him, and doesn’t show any symptoms. What, in your opinion, do I need to do to help her? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | 55 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

Fortunately, rabies in dogs is very rare in the U.S. and hopefully this dog has been vaccinated at-least once already. Knowing his vaccine status will make a big difference for knowing whether rabies is a concern or not. If he happens to have a rabies, or city registration tag on the collar, then this indicates that he would have been vaccinated before. If he is neutered, then this would also be a good indication that he has been vaccinated before. One thing you can do in order to find out his vaccine status is to take him to a local shelter and have him scanned for a microchip. They can also help locate the owner and find out more information about the dog. Rabies usually requires a break in the skin to be transmitted. It is also less likely that Buddy has rabies if he's not showing any signs (the vet at the shelter can check for any signs). Overall, it seems very unlikely that this dog has rabies, or that your sister would be infected. For more information and understanding the risk of rabies, I recommend you read the information at the link below. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html I hope that helps and all is well with your sister and the dog.

My new dog bumped my sister's mouth. Should I worry about rabies?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My degu lost teeth after an accident. How can I feed him soft foods?

My degu has trouble breathing, coughing, and nose discharge. Help?

Is my pet's occasional sneezing and eye crust a URI symptom?

My ferret has bloody urine and bladder stones. Is it an emergency?

My animal has a bruised hoof but isn't limping. What should I do?

Share