2torial #0910:
Learn2 Treat a Dog Bite (continued)

Check the dog's vaccination records

Every dog should have a valid rabies tag on its collar. Of course, having been bitten, you may not want to approach the dog to look. In that case, is the owner around? Can he or she prove that the dog has a current rabies vaccination? If he or she shows you the dog's rabies tag, be sure to note its expiration date--a tag means nothing if it isn't current. Remember that the law is on your side in this case. The owner must prove the dog's vaccination record or let animal authorities quarantine it for ten days.

Why do you need to know the dog's vaccination records? Rabies is an often-fatal viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is transmitted by the bite of infected animals. There is no cure for rabies once symptoms have developed, but if the victim is vaccinated promptly after exposure to the disease, immunity can be developed.

If the dog disappears altogether, see a doctor immediately to follow a course of human vaccination against rabies. The good news is that rabies vaccines have been updated to a series of five easy shots in the arm, given over a four-week period.

While it's true that rabies is fairly well controlled in the United States, you shouldn't take this disease lightly. Always consult a doctor regarding the health risks involved when bitten by a dog that doesn't have a valid, updated rabies vaccination.

If you can't get satisfactory proof of vaccination, or if the animal is a stray or runs away, call the local animal authorities immediately. They'll talk to the owner and secure the necessary records, or find the dog and quarantine it.