Can One Contract Rabies From A Vaccinated Pet Dog?

Posted on Tue, 10 Nov 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 Answered on

Mon, 7 Dec 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Sir I have a question for you sometime my vaccinated pet dog when is outside at lawn he was sniff may be licked by stary dog due to space in gates or may be may be his tongue came in contact with that dog also!!i just to want to know is there anything to worry for my family memebers who play and licked by pet dog and also rest on there bed?its possible that if his tongue is licked and he lick any memeber any member immediately then there any risk posses or not that my only wory?

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
A question for veternary doctor

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

It all depends on whether if your dog is vaccinated or not? Also it depends on the chances of transmission of rabies from stray dog to your dog. I think you should ask your dog's veternarian about this.

If the dog is safe without contracting rabies then your family members have zero chances of rabies. In such a case you do not require pre exposure rabies vaccine as well.

Coming to the second question, the rabies immunoglobulins are given through vaccine that you are talking about. The life of immunoglobulins vary with a lot of factors. To know how long it protects you should keep measuring antibody titres in your serum.

Hope this answers.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli

Follow up: Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (2 days later)

So sir pre rabies vaccine is a good option which will keep immunised atleast for 1 year if there is no 3 category or any type of bite?

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can prefer pre exposure prophylaxis against rabies

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

If you feel that you are at risk for rabies because your dog is not vaccinated or you get bitten by stray dogs then you can take pre exposure prophylaxis in the form of vaccine against rabies. It is 3 dose course taken on 0,3 and 9 days.

Hope this answers

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (1 hour later)

Then sir after having these vaccine I long I will be immunised before any bite

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (40 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Blood test for Rabies antibodies every 2 yrs

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

First of all I mentioned the doses wrong, it should be Day 0, Day 7 and Day 28 total three doses as pre exposure prophylaxis against rabies.

Now regarding how long it will be immunized. It is difficult to say but I recommend blood test for rabies antibodies every 2 years in your case. The vaccine-induced immunity persists in most cases for years, a booster would be recommended only if rabies virus neutralizing antibody titres fall to <0.5 IU/ml. So if your antibody levels have gone below 0.5IU then you can take one booster dose.

This is how it is practised if you are person frequently exposed to bites of stray dogs.

Hope this answers

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli