Dog fight, I was bitten. Do I need a rabies shot? My dog's safety?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like the bite wound has become infected. Bite wounds typically require the attention of a veterinarian. If the wound is deep enough, it may require stitches and prescription antibiotics if it is infected. Depending on your local animal control and rabies laws, your puppy may need a rabies vaccine now and then a booster in 6 months. I would be sure to have Puppy seen by a veterinarian right away so he can have this wound evaluated.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for your puppy. The answer to this question will depend on the circumstances. If this is a puppy you do not know/a stray/from an uknown home then I would recommend contacting your human physician. If this is your puppy who has been in your care with no exposure to wildlife and who is acting normally/healthy then the concern for rabies is very low but it does look like there is a puncture in your skin so I would recommend consulting your human doctor as we can develop bacterial infections due to dog bites and your doctor can advise you if treatment is necessary.

Ouch. I am sorry you got bit. Dog bites have a tendency to get infected. However, we are liable for every piece of information that we tell pet owners and since we are not human doctors we are not legally allowed to give out medical advice for people. It is a good rule of thumb to get any dog bite looked at by your medical professional to determine if you will need antibiotics, antiseptic cleaning of the wound, stitches, etc. I am sorry that your pet bit you and let this be a lesson for the future that negative reinforcement used in pets can escalate into hazardous situations so it should be avoided at all cost. I would also recommend seeking help from an animal behaviorist for better methods for training young Bruno while he is still young and impressionable. Here is a website link for certified animal behaviorist http://www.dacvb.org/ Good luck to you and Bruno in your quest for a positive and respectful relationship in the future.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear about Darby, I can imagine that was very scary for both of you! I would recommend having Darby seen by a veterinarian as soon as you can. Dog bite wounds can be very extensive, beyond what you can see on the surface. There can be significant soft tissue injury that you cannot see, and a wound that looks like a small puncture can actually have deep pocketing and tissue damage. Also, dog bite wounds are very prone to becoming infected, as the bacteria in a dog's mouth can infect your dog's skin and prevent the wounds from healing. Your veterinarian will likely want to sedate Darby so he/she can clip the hair around the wounds and clean them out. Based on Darby's physical exam, your veterinarian may also recommend x-rays to look for evidence of other trauma, such as lung contusions (bruises) or fractures. Your veterinarian can also prescribe pain medications and antibiotics. As a reminder, NEVER give dogs pain medication which is intended for humans, as they can be fatally toxic to dogs. Darby may be scared of dogs for a little while after this event, which is to be expected. I hope this is helpful, and good luck with Darby!

This bite wound should be considered infected and ideally seen by your human doctor as antibiotics may be needed. If your dog was vaccinated against rabies and vaccination was still active, then there no risk of this specific infection.

Since he has had his rabies vaccination, you do not need to be worried. You do not need ARV. You do, however, need to be worried that you could get a skin infection. Just keep the wounds clean as it looks like you have done. If you notice any major redness, pain or swelling around the bite areas you need to see your human doctor.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Scratches are a little less concerning than a bite, especially if there was no bleeding. Sounds like you performed first aide to your wounds well, but if your scratch marks do not heal or worsen, then yes please see your MD. Puppies can begin getting their initial vaccines around 8 weeks of age so I would make sure schedule an appointment with his veterinarian for this soon. I hope this helps!