Rabies vaccines?
Hello all,
I'm sorry to rehash the vaccine issue again, but I've senselessly
put myself into a position where I *may* have no choice but to
get several anti-rabies vaccines. :(
Several hours ago when coming out of the pharmacy near my house,
a homeless man asked me if I could spare some change. While
reaching into my pocket, I looked down and noticed an adorable
lab puppy tied to a post behind him, with a food dish by his
side. It broke my heart to see him sitting there. Being a big
animal lover who frequently helps capture injured waterfowl, it
was nothing new for me to stoop down and pet a wild/stray animal.
Well, this puppy was so happy to receive my affection, that he
instantly jumped up and tried to play with me. Well, I tend to
lose all common sense when around animals. I began to
play-wrestle with him and being a puppy, he started to gnaw on my
hand with his sharp little teeth. I pulled my hand out and the
next thing I know, he's after my ankle. I give him one last pat
on the head and say goodbye to the man and started home.
Well, after I got home, I decided I better wash my hands and
instantly noticed a few small abrasions where his teeth had left
marks. No bleeding, but the teeth obviously pierced the surface
of the skin. Well, my fiance comes in the kitchen and says, "You
let a homeless, stray dog gnaw on your hands??? Did he have any
tags? He could have rabies!" So, feeling terribly careless, I
answered, "Yes, I did let him gnaw on my hands, and I don't know
if he had tags". I really should have known better. Call me a big
sucker when it comes to animals. These things just slip my mind.
So here I am, wondering what I should do. I am thinking of going
back to the pharmacy tomorrow night, to see if the man and the
dog are still there, and I'll ask if the dog has been vaccinated
for rabies. Highly unlikely, I think. I mean, one who begs for
money has bigger priorities than getting rabies shots for his
dog. But if I can't find them, or if I do, and the dog hasn't
been vaccinated, I may have to play it safe and start one of 6
anti-rabies shots within the next two days. Rabies is 100% fatal
in humans if shots aren't started by two days after exposure. Yet
at the same time, we all know that vaccines can possibly cause
long term health problems and immediate severe allergic
reactions. I keep telling myself I am overeacting, that the dog
is probably fine, and I should just let it go and take my
chances. I mean, why put myself at risk for problems, when there
is only a small chance this dog could have rabies. But then, what
if I am wrong?
Have any of you ever had to have pre-exposure or post-exposure
rabies vaccines in the past or recently?
Thanks for listening to me vent. :)
~Kyla