dog bite

[JunoBean]

Hey there,
Juno was bitten in the face by another boxer today at the park, and I am worried about her! We bought her a few months ago at 7 months old, and am not to sure how up to date all her shots are or what type of shots she received. A document states that she received 3 vaccinations, one of april 12, 2010, one May 12, 2010, and 3rd Sept 22, 2010. Does anyone have any ideas about what types of shots these may have been, and how when you think she will need her shots? Do these shots protect her from rabies? Of course I am going to get her checked out, but right now I am really upset :( Her face is fine, very minor puncture. Thank you very much!
-Keshia and Juno

 

[Caney Creek]

Only a rabies shot will protect her from rabies... whether she's had one or not I can't say, but my best guess would be that the last shot she received, in September 2010, was probably for rabies since that one is usually given several months after the initial puppy vaccination series.

That being said, I would be doubtful that the dog at the dog park who bit her had rabies... it's just SO rare for pets to get. I guess you never know though.

Hope Juno's sweet little face heals up quickly!

 

[sargboxerluv]

Dog bites, even ones that look minor, can get infected easily. So make sure you are checking her over frequently for signs of infection.

It would seem date wise that the sept one could be a rabies shot, but I find it very odd that you would have papers for a rabies shot but not the license that goes along with it. Unless your process is different where you live.

If you don't have papers/license specifically stating it's a rabies shot, you should get a rabies shot. Even if it isn't required where you live, if your dog bites someone they could quarantine your dog. Which I think is for several weeks. The only other way to find out if the dog has rabies is to put it to sleep and test it's brain. And since rabies is fatal once symptoms start, they may opt euthanasia and an immediate diagnosis over the wait and see.

In your case I doubt the dog that bit Juno has rabies. Unless you saw behaviors that riased your suspicions.

 

[acadorette]

When they are puppies they usually get a series of three or four distemper vaccines 3-4 weeks apart and get their first rabies vaccine around the age of 12 weeks. If you got your pup from a breeder then it was their responsibility to do those vaccines. If you have any paper work it should say (a distemper would be abbrievated as DHPP or DHLPP and a rabies vaccine as RV).

As for the bite wounds you want to make sure you keep those clean and get them looked at by your vet if you haven't yet. And to also do warm compresses on them two to three times a day so they heal from the inside out. Any scabs that start to form on the outside you want to actually remove by doing a warm compress ( continue warming a washcloth for 10-15 minutes) so then it doesn't form an absess underneth.