Little Dog At Massage Shop

[deejah]

seemed so sweet and docile

but when i turned around and walked away

she came from behind

jumped up on my leg

and took a good bite out of me

she broke the skin

in two areas

with a little blood

you can clearly see a puncture mark

and there is a little swelling

i cleaned it twice with soap and water

soooooo

how dangerous is this? (rabies)

i think they are 2 indoor dogs

and may have even had shots

but can not be sure

is the dog already mad for attacking like that?

is it imperative i get rabies shot(s) now?

what are the chances of this being dangerous?

feedback please

i love dogs and animals

and had many encounters with many dogs, wild even

but never been attacked like this

if i want to do something

what is the normal course?

how long can i wait?

get a shot?

only one?

cost?

thanks

[Mrjlh]

Simple things to ask. Probably not serious. Did the dog have tags? Vaccinated? Make sure. Usually means rabies vaccination but not always. Ask the owner and go see a Doctor. Take pictures of the wound. I'm really not sure but you may need a police report if the animal needs to be quarantined and the owner is uncooperative. The police can order the quarantine it at the owners cost. I sure the owner takes really good care of the dog but you just don't know. It's best to err on the side of caution than find out later.

If the dog is vaccinated it's not that serious just go to the doctor and get it treated. Don't wait for an infection to start.

Edited July 9, 2011 by Mrjlh

[puuchai299]

The thais always tell me you have to have 8 injections at different intervals after a dog bite.Not sure how quickly you need to get the first,maybe best to see a doctor to be sure.

[harrry]

If the dog had a square tag from its collar it probably has been vacinated. Ours have but they managed to get rid of the tags.

[Jingthing]

This is not fun but you need to see documented proof the dog had it's shots (not a verbal, don't worry, you worry too much) or you need to get shots ASAP. Having the dog in quarantine doesn't help you at all. If it's turns out rabid, it's too late for you. Rabies is 100 percent fatal (well OK maybe there was one survivor in history). Sure the chances are against the dog being rabid, but the risk isn't worth avoiding the bother of the shots.

[harrry]

CHENNAI: More than 2.77 lakh people across Tamil Nadu have been bitten by animals and 18 of them died of rabies this year, according to government data available from January to April

1 lahk is 100,000.

So the odds on you having rabies is low.

But if you are feeling nervous get a shot straight away as one of the first symptoms is nervousness.

Edited July 9, 2011 by harrry

[Mrjlh]

See a doctor ASAP gets his opinion! Don't worry too much. Not 8 shots. New vaccines are not as bad as the old were.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR602235

But you do need to get there within 24 hours of the bite. Hurry!

Edited July 9, 2011 by Mrjlh

[Sheryl]

1. I would not go by rabies statistics from India! Rabies is extremely widespread in Thailand.

2.Jingthing is correct, unless you can obtain definitive proof that the dog was vaccinated, you need the shots.

3. How many shots and what type will depend on whether you have ever had the human rabies vaccine. If not, you are in for much more than if you had been vaccinated (everyone living in/coming to Thailand should get rabies vaccine).

4. Don't delay. although the odds of rabies are less in a dog kept as a pet (especially if not allowed to roam freely outdoors)it is not nil. If the dog has ever been vaccinated the owner will have been given a vaccine card. Ask to see it.

If you can't verify that the dog has been vaccinated and are concerned about the cost of the treatment, and are in Bangkok, go to the Thai Red cross Clinic, that's as cheap as it gets, and you can trust them to follow established protocol (Thai doctors have been known to sometimes let the "mai pen rai" philosophy override established medical practices, so this is an issue).

[deejah]

thanks for all of the posts

went back to the shop

got the dogs papers

took it to pharmacist

who said the last shot was a year ago and could not be completely trusted

also the efficacy of the dog vaccines vary considerably

called a doc too he said to get treatment

long and short of it

CYBT (can you believe this)???

the owner agreed to pay for the shots

got one rabies today and one tetanus

even got reimbursed the full 750 baht !!!

need to go back for 4 more rabies shots!

i dont like them, not sure if i need them, but might as well

thanks again all

harry LOL very good comment!!!!

Edited July 9, 2011 by deejah

[deejah]

oh and why would a dog behave in such a way???

completely unprovoked

i swear the worse are the little domestic ones!!!!

i also have concerns about vaccines

i think i read to many conspiracy theories about them

however after seeing a vid on the effects of rabies

i am not taking the chance

thanks again

[Mrjlh]

oh and why would a dog behave in such a way???

completely unprovoked

i swear the worse are the little domestic ones!!!!

i also have concerns about vaccines

i think i read to many conspiracy theories about them

however after seeing a vid on the effects of rabies

i am not taking the chance

thanks again

Ever watch the "Dog Whisperer"? A dogs way of reminding who runs the roost! Means the owner isn't the pack leader as she thinks she is. Bet the owner let's her little dog get away with a lot. Hopefully not anymore.

Glad to see the owner co-operating. Check with the Doc but I believe after your shots, you won't ever need to worry about rabies again. Not that you want to.

Sorry for your pain.