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My dog bit me 10 years ago. Should I still worry about rabies?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bulldog | Female | spayed

SHARE My dog bit me when it was just 3-4 weeks old puppy. I did not take any vaccination/rabies shot at that time. Now it has been 10 years. My puppy has developed into a healthy and a happy dog. She got all her vaccines on time.Recently i read about the long incubation period for rabies and thinking about that bite makes me nervous. What should do i do now? I am loosing sleep over the thing.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 9th, 2017

The incubation period for rabies in humans is typically 1-3 months, but can very from between 1 week to 1 year according the the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 90% of cases of rabies in humans develop within 6 months of exposure to rabies, and it extremely rare to have rabies appear in humans after an incubation period of 7 years. A CDC study done in 2008 found in only one girl in Australia who had an incubation period of 6.5 years after exposure to rabies. Finally, you could have only gotten rabies from AA if she had it, and given that she hasn't shown any signs in 10 years and she is healthy, there is no chance she had rabies or given it to you from a bite years ago. I have seen you have posted this question numerous times with experts reassuring you this is not something to worry about or lose sleep over. At this point, I suggest to speak with a doctor about your concerns.
Vote Icon3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    You likely don't have rabies. The incubation period is actually pretty short, and dogs that have a questionable history are usually only quarantined for a period of ten days to determine if they may be a carrier after a bite. However, if you are feeling ill or unsure of your health it is always best to talk to a healthcare professional.

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    0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
Am I safe from rabies after a puppy bite 10 years ago?
Given that the bite was 10 years ago, if you were develop any illness from it such as rabies, symptoms would have appeared a long time ago. I would not lose any sleep over this, there is nothing to worry about :-)
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
My dog was bitten and is acting strange. Could it be rabies?
The incubation period of rabies in dogs is typically between three to eight weeks, but there have been reported cases of incubation periods lasting up to six months. Behavioral changes are an early sign of rabies, as well as a hypersensitivity to light and sounds. There could also be another medical cause behind his behavior. If you concerned that Snoopy has rabies, you need to take him into the vet immediately. The only test to confirm rabies is a post-mortem exam of the brain, but your vet can quarantine him to see if his symptoms progress further. You will also need to see your doctor immediately if the vet thinks Snoopy has rabies, as you will have been exposed to it if he bit you, and you will need vaccines. Please take Snoopy into a vet now.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My puppy bit me. Should I worry about rabies if he's had one vaccine?
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Austin has had his rabies vaccine you should be fine. But you should contact your local health department and talk to a human physician. If Austin has Rabies in the transmissible form (in the salivary glands) then he will show neurologic signs for rabies with in 10 days. Keep him quarantined for 10 days. If he dies from any cause he should be tested for Rabies if it is before the 10 days quarantine. Always keep your pets up to date on rabies and prevent them interacting with wild life and unvaccinated pets. I wish you the best!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My unvaccinated stray dog bit me 10 days ago. Do I need rabies shots?
There is a usually a 10 day quarantine period after an animal breaks the skin of a person. If the animal has rabies in it's saliva - it show signs of rabies within 10 days. This doesn't not mean that the animal doesn't have rabies- just that it couldn't have transmitted it at the time of the bite. Rabies can have a long incubation period. Rabies should be taken very seriously because it is a fatal virus. I would recommend getting Tofy vaccinated as soon as possible. I would recommend consulting with a local veterinarian on what happened and have an exam done on Tofy. They can give you the necessary information. Please get her examined and vaccinated to protect her and yourself. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My puppy bit me. Could my dog have rabies? Should he be vaccinated?
Your question is a human medical question, which we are not qualified to answer. You need to check with your human doctor about taking the rabies vaccines. In terms of your dog, if he had rabies, he would have been dead by now if he had it three months ago when he bit you.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
If a vaccinated dog bit me, what's my rabies risk of contracting it?
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the dog is up to date on its rabies vaccinations, the chance of you contracting rabies is incredibly low. What we recommend is to quarantine the dog who bit you (or have the owner of the dog quarantine it) for 10 days and monitor the dog for the development of any abnormal neurologic signs. If the dog is completely normal after 10 days from the time you were bit, you are in the clear. If the dog becomes sick at all in that time frame, or if you become sick at all, I recommend contacting your doctor. I hope this is helpful - best of luck!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My vaccinated dog bit someone. Could they get rabies from the bite?
If Cooper has been vaccinated for rabies this year, then no there is no chance of him having rabies. The rabies vaccine lasts either a year or three years depending on the brand given. You have no need to worry.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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