How can I get rabies if I am bitten by a dog?

Rabies can only be contracted if you are bitten by a dog that has rabies or carries the rabies virus.

The US CDC clearly states that all mammals can develop rabies. Birds, fish, insects, lizards, turtles and snakes are not mammals and do not infect and transmit rabies.

Dogs are mammals, so if they are bitten by a dog, they can get rabies. However, rabies will not be transmitted in the following cases.

domestic dogs that are regularly vaccinated in large cities;

The origin of the dog is clear, kept at home, not scattered outside;

The dog has not been exposed to a suspected rabies dog or has not been bitten by a dog of unknown origin;

The animal does not show signs of illness or abnormal behavior, and the bite is caused by a reason, such as pulling hard, teasing, protecting food, protecting children, or being hurt;

The animal has been vaccinated against rabies with an effective rabies;

It has been more than 10 days since the bite and the dog is healthy as usual.

A joint study by the Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC of Guizhou Province, and the University of Georgia of the United States has shown that healthy pets do not transmit rabies virus. Even if it is carried, it is not contagious when it does not become ill.

In general, the possibility of getting rabies from a dog bite is still not high. Rabies can usually be contracted after being bitten by a dog with the rabies virus without special treatment. Because rabies is a fatal disease, it is generally necessary to wash the wound with soap and water immediately after being bitten by a dog, and to be vaccinated with rabies vaccination in time to prevent the onset of the disease.

Generally, rabies vaccination will play a preventive role.

Dogs that don't eat garbage generally don't carry the rabies virus. Rinse with tap water for 20 minutes and you're fine. No big deal.

1. Bites from stray dogs or wild animals

Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by a virus that is mainly transmitted through bites from virus-infected animals, so bites from stray dogs or wild animals are one of the most likely to cause rabies. These animals are uncertain about their vaccination status and cannot be effectively observed and isolated**, making them vulnerable to carriers of the virus.

If you are bitten by one of these animals, especially if the bite is broken**, bleeding or there is a saliva contact wound, you should go to the hospital for vaccination and treatment** in time to avoid infection with the rabies virus.

2. Animal bites with a history of rabies virus infection

If you are bitten by an animal with a history of rabies virus infection, you are also susceptible to rabies infection. These animals may have been infected with the rabies virus, vaccination is not always effective, and there is a high probability of infection after a bite.

In this case, it is also necessary to go to the hospital for vaccination and treatment in a timely manner**. If the animal's vaccination status is uncertain, or if the animal that has been bitten has expired, the vaccine should be vaccinated in advance and given in time after the bite.

3. Dog bites with oral diseases such as bad breath and stomatitis

Dogs are common pets, and dog bites occur in daily life. Under normal circumstances, the probability of rabies infection caused by vaccinated dogs is very low, but if these dogs have oral diseases such as bad breath and stomatitis, it may lead to the spread of oral bacteria and viruses after biting, increasing the risk of rabies infection.

Therefore, after being bitten by a dog, you should go to the hospital in time for treatment, bandage the wound and disinfect it to reduce the probability of infection as much as possible. At the same time, observe the dog's physical condition and vaccination status, if the health and vaccination status of the dog are better, the probability of infection will be greatly reduced.

4. Bite on the grass

In outdoor sports, camping, hiking, and other activities, it is sometimes possible to encounter bites on grass. In this case, it may be a bite by a wild animal hiding in the grass, or it may be an attack on the grass by a stray dog that has been infected with rabies.

Therefore, it is important to avoid walking and moving on grass fields that are not clearly safe, especially if you have not completed your vaccination or have not received preventive vaccines in time.