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Can u get rabies from healthy dog
I feed dogs daily n often they lick me- sometimes on hands or even face- i was wondering if this can lead to rabies or any infection since i have dry hands that sometimes gets cuts in winters
If dog is healthy then no risk right??
Answers (31)
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If they are stray dogs or if you are unaware of their vaccination status, it’s better to avoid contact or atleast avoid direst contact with cracked skin.
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Avoid fried and spicy food .water intake more
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Worth wearing gloves to reduce your risk.
All the best.
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Healthy dog means? Not vaccinated but physically healthy??? It's not guaranteed.kindly consult with me on 94 two six 86 seven eight 96.
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Can help you with the next course of action and treatment plan. Kindly consult via whatsapp at nine zero two nine six zero zero four seven zero.
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If you want to discuss your problem in more detail, feel free to message me on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine for a free detailed discussion
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As you come in contact with the dogs regularly,get pre exposure vaccine
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Yes you cannot diagnose the disease if it is in its incipient stage. So it's better to get the dog vaccinated. One cannot predict the dormant stage of infection so it's better to be aware. You can get a pre exposure prophylaxis dose of vaccine if you feed or touch dogs regularly.
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Less likely if dog is completely vaccinated but never guaranteed. Still advised to get the prophylactic shot!
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If the dog is fully vaccinated as per schedule,dewormed regularly and is healthy otherwise is less prone
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If it's stray dogs or unknown vaccination history of the dogs, better to get vaccinated yourself even if it's a lick and not a bite on the cracked dry skin because saliva is a medium of transmission. If it's your pet dog with known vaccination status of the dog and if it's upto date, then no need to Vaccinate yourself.
Next Steps
Watch the dogs carefully.
Vaccinate the dog till date
Moisturize your skin regularly
Treat the wounds early if there is any
Health Tips
Avoid getting cuts
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There is no risk of rabies from feeding healthy dogs daily or from them licking your hands or face. Rabies is transmitted only when fresh saliva from a truly rabid dog enters a fresh, bleeding wound or when a rabid dog bites or scratches. Normal pet or community dogs that look healthy, active and are behaving normally do not carry rabies virus in their saliva.
Having dry skin or small winter cracks does not change the risk. These tiny dry-skin cracks are not considered open wounds and cannot allow rabies virus to enter. Everyday licking on intact or mildly dry skin is Category I exposure, which means zero risk and no vaccination is needed.
Also remember:
A dog that is alive and healthy 10 days after licking or contact cannot be rabid at that time.
Rabies virus dies within minutes once saliva dries.
Rabies cannot spread through casual contact, grooming, touching, feeding, or sharing environment with dogs.
Feeding street dogs or pets and getting licked by them is safe, as long as the dog is behaving normally and is not showing rabies symptoms.
Health Tips
If you ever get a real bite or bleeding scratch, then you should take proper treatment. But for simple licking by healthy dogs, you are completely safe and do not need any medicines or vaccines.
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Better to vaccinate
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High risk
Get dog vaccinated
You also go for pre exposure prophylaxis
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Make sure your dog is vaccinated ,then you dont have problem .licking is not a danger sign or warning sign of rabies.
Next Steps
follow dog vaccination time to time
Health Tips
dont worry
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Get vaccinated stary dog
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If STRAY ANIMAL GET VACCINATED.
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If the dogs are street dog then get yourself vaccinated
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First of all make sure the dogs are vaccinated
If not vaccinated then licking does not cause rabies, if at all the dog is rabies affected and the dogs licks on a skin tear (wound ) on your body you might get the disease.
Secondly skin infections on the site of licking and gastric issues can develop if the saliva gets ingested unknowingly.
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Need few more details for proper understanding of your issue.
You can consult with me online on Practo or whatsapp on eight three one eight four six nine eight eight six for proper diagnosis, conclusion and management
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No rabies risk from a healthy, normal dog simply licking your hands or face.
Even if you have dry skin or small winter cracks, rabies requires a bite or saliva directly into a deep, fresh bleeding wound.
Dog licking → generally not a concern.
Main point:
If the dog is healthy and behaving normally, zero rabies risk from licking. At most, it can cause minor skin infections, so just wash with soap and water.
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Yess if the dogs are not affected with rabies there is no problem in it and be more cautious may be the dog in subclinical stage where the virus will present but no show any symptoms
Next Steps
take a ARV prophylaxis if you are with dogs often
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Dr. Sajid Ali
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Kanpur
Get pre exposure vaccine
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Dr. Jasim Bin Jafar
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Pathanamthitta
If you are a person who is coming in constant contact with dogs, it is better for you to take pre exposure prophylaxis, which is 3 doses as vaccination status of dogs is difficult to determine and even if they are vaccinated , vaccine does not offer 100% protection for dogs
Next Steps
It is better for you to take pre exposure prophylaxis( that is preventive dose)
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Dr. Manoj Kumar
General Physician
10 yrs exp
Dehradun
Need few more details
Kindly consult
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Dr. Aparna Narayanaswamy
General Practitioner
1 yrs exp
Kottayam
You cannot say a healthy dog may not have rabies. Even healthy dogs can be rapid and present later. Kindly keep safe distance and wash hands after coming in contact with the dog or any other such animals. Kindly contact directly on practo for more details
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Dr. Sweetline
Paediatrics
10 yrs exp
Chennai
Simply licking on intact skin doesn't cause rabies, anyway in future be careful and avoid licks on safer side
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Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
If no bite, no risk
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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Dr. Marini Vanitha
General Physician
12 yrs exp
Kakinada
Avoid doing that. Get vaccinated
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