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Dog and issues
My brother completed his full four-dose anti-rabies vaccine course. Then, 18 days after completion, my pet dog licked my wound. He took two booster shots—one of 0.8 units and the other of 0.4 units. Two days after that , he had wound on his nose and our pet dog touched my brother's nose accidentally, from his back of the head's furr . What should we do ?
Answers (18)
If your brother completed a full post-exposure anti-rabies vaccination course and subsequently received the recommended booster doses after a fresh exposure, no further rabies vaccination is usually required for accidental contact with the dog’s fur or intact skin. If the dog’s saliva contacted an open wound or mucous membrane, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and consult a physician for risk assessment
Next Steps
Observe the pet dog for 10 days (if healthy and available). Seek immediate medical review if there was direct saliva exposure to an open wound or mucous membrane
Health Tips
Touching a dog’s fur alone is not considered a rabies exposure. Ensure the pet’s rabies vaccination is up to date.
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You can be completely reassured about this latest incident. Rabies is transmitted only through the saliva of an infected animal â not through fur, skin, or body contact. A dog's fur or the back of its head touching a wound carries no rabies risk whatsoever, even if the wound was open. Additionally, your brother has already completed a full anti-rabies vaccine course plus two booster doses for the earlier exposure, which means he now has very good protective immunity. There is absolutely no need for any further vaccination for this current incident. Simply wash the area gently with soap and water as routine wound care.
Next Steps
No further anti-rabies vaccination is required. Clean the wound with soap and water. If the pet dog is showing any unusual behavior, consult a veterinarian. Please consult me directly on Practo for a detailed evaluation.
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If your brother’s wound is exposed and is touched or licked by dog. It’s better to thoroughly clean and irrigate the wound.
Nothing much is required if rabies vaccination of person and dog is updated unless there’s a deep bite.
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Book consultation for further queries :)
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