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Rabies risk or safe ?
A dog splited his saliva on to the ground. My shoelace TOUCHES THE fresh saliva and when i was tying my shoelace. , I TOUCHED THAT CONTAMINATED SHOELACE.
AFETER 10 MINUTES I TOUCHED AN OPEN WOUND WITH THE HAND BY WHICH I TOUCED THAT shoe lace. Am I at risk of rabies? Kindly help
Answers (13)
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No
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Yes.
You are at the risk of contracting Rabies.
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Based on what you described, the risk of Rabies transmission in this situation is extremely unlikely. Rabies virus spreads mainly when infected animal saliva directly enters the body through a fresh bite, scratch, or mucous membrane.
In your case, the contact was indirect: saliva → shoelace → hand → wound after about 10 minutes. The rabies virus is fragile and does not survive well outside the animal’s body, especially after exposure to air and environmental surfaces. Because the saliva was not directly introduced into the wound, the situation you described is not considered a typical rabies exposure.
Next Steps
• Wash the open wound thoroughly with soap and running water if not already done.
• Apply an antiseptic solution such as povidone iodine.
• Monitor the wound for redness, swelling, or signs of infection.
• Rabies vaccination is generally not required for this type of indirect contact, but if you remain very concerned, you may consult a doctor for reassurance.
Health Tips
• Rabies risk is mainly associated with direct bites or scratches from infected animals.
• Immediate washing of any wound for 10–15 minutes significantly reduces infection risk.
• Try to avoid touching wounds with unwashed hands, especially after contact with outdoor surfaces.
• Keeping wounds clean and covered helps prevent secondary bacterial infection.
If you’d like, you can book an online consultation and share more details about the wound and the exposure, and I can guide you clearly on whether any additional precautions are necessary for your safety.
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Need proper history so kindly consult
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Gaurav Jaiswal
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhansi
Kindly do connect and consult
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Unlikely
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Dr. Saarika
General Physician
4 yrs exp
Chennai
Since there was contact of saliva with an open wound, it is advisable to proceed with the recommended schedule of anti-rabies vaccination for safety.
Please consult a nearby healthcare facility to start the vaccination as early as possible
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Dr. Suvashree Suvasmita Kar
General Physician
9 yrs exp
Bhubaneswar
unlikely. still wash your wound with soap and running water.
Next Steps
check if the dog is rabid or not.
Health Tips
usually rabies spread through direct contamination of wound.
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Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Yes
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Dr. Dinesh Mehta
General Physician
3 yrs exp
Jaipur
Go for vaccination, because your broken skin /open wound contact with saliva.so dont take risk ,better if you go for scheduled vaccination.
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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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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.