Do I need Rabies PEP in the following situation?

[Ceece]

If I had a rabies shot for every cat scratch I suffered in my life...well, there wouldn't be enough rabies shots for that. Sometimes you have to assume that the rare, .0001% ISN'T going to happen to you. If it did I'd probably be looking forward to the next weeks lottery more.

[Canaan-84]

Originally Posted by Ceece

If I had a rabies shot for every cat scratch I suffered in my life...well, there wouldn't be enough rabies shots for that. Sometimes you have to assume that the rare, .0001% ISN'T going to happen to you. If it did I'd probably be looking forward to the next weeks lottery more.

You have a point, but I always felt it's better to be on the safe side especially when it concerns stray or wild animals.

[RazorRob305]

I got bit by a dog today actually, the doctor said it didn't look deep enough to get infected, but I found that the owner was about 3 months past due on the dog's rabies shots. All other shots were up to date. Do you guys think I should be worried? It was in a nice neighborhood and the dog was domesticated and looked healthy. Going to call animal control tomorrow. So do you think that 3 months past due on rabies shots is past the tolerance for the vaccine?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Ask a vet.

[RazorRob305]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Ask a vet.

I actually asked the people at animal control today and they said 3 months wasn't a big deal because of the tollerance of the vaccine, but I have a few more people to talk to and more questions to be answered.

[kansas sky]

Originally Posted by RazorRob305

I got bit by a dog today actually, the doctor said it didn't look deep enough to get infected, but I found that the owner was about 3 months past due on the dog's rabies shots. All other shots were up to date. Do you guys think I should be worried? It was in a nice neighborhood and the dog was domesticated and looked healthy. Going to call animal control tomorrow. So do you think that 3 months past due on rabies shots is past the tolerance for the vaccine?

Most likely you're perfectly safe. Technically though, the dog should probably be quarantined (this may be able to be done at its home) for 10 days. If it doesn't develop symptoms within 10 days then it isn't actively rabid and you can have some peace of mind.

[KathrynAragon]

Wow, when I was a kid, I had to have the rabies series of shots, and it was 21 shots in the stomach - one each day for 3 weeks. It was FIERCE and you can imagine how well that went over with a five year old.

We lived in Japan at the time and there was a serious rabies outbreak, including several human cases (which were fatal). I had found a stray cat that was acting odd, and picked it up and it sort of casually reached over and bit me right on the neck, breaking the skin. Then of course I dropped it and it ran away (never to be seen again). My mother saw it happen out the window and of course freaked out, and off we went to the hospital, where everyone else freaked out and the shots began.

It was pretty intense! My how things have changed.

[snofarmer]

It depends.
rabies vaccinations can be good for 3years+.
many vets vaccinate every year as it is easy money.

The important info would be when was the dog vaccinated last and with what vaccine.(there are different rabies vaccines)