Rabies - #29366
I am really worried about something that happened last week. My dog was acting super strange and, honestly, I thought he might just have a tummy upset but then I remember he had a little scuffle with a raccoon. Like, the raccoon seemed off too. Now I've read a bunch about rabies and omg, I'm spiraling. I saw my dog licking the wounds he got in the fight and, like, what if that raccoon had rabies? He’s been a little more clingy than usual, and sometimes he's kinda aggressive with my other pets, which he NEVER does. I took him to the vet right after, and they said everything looked fine in the blood work, but they didn’t specifically test for rabies. Do you think I should be pushing for a rabies test? Like, is it too late for him to show symptoms? I just can’t shake this feeling that rabies could be lurking and I would feel awful if something happens. Can rabies develop even if the vet gave him a clean bill of health? Also, what are signs I should actually be looking for? I keep thinking about rabies and it's making me anxious since I have small kids at home. Should I be considering a rabies vaccine for him even tho it’s been a week? Like, what’s the time frame for that? Who knew this would happen and I’m just freaking out over here!
100% Anonymously
No sign-up needed.

Doctors' responses
In situations involving potential rabies exposure, especially following a scuffle with wildlife like a raccoon, it’s critical to consider several factors. First, if your dog has been previously vaccinated for rabies, the vaccine provides good protection, though it’s not absolute. If there’s doubt about his vaccination status, a booster may be recommended. Rabies in dogs can be hard to detect early on since symptoms often appear weeks to months after exposure. Behavioral changes such as increased aggression, restlessness, excessive drooling, or paralysis can be indicators, but these occur late in the disease. Rabies cannot be diagnosed in live animals through a blood test; diagnosis is typically postmortem through brain tissue examination. Regardless, post-exposure measures are crucial. If your vet didn’t raise rabies as a concern initially but you’re worried, consult them again and discuss the specific exposure details and vaccination history. Post-exposure prophylaxis is more typical for humans, but timely dog vaccinations are essential preventive measures. Rabies is extremely dangerous, zoonotic, and transferrable to humans; immediate medical advice is paramount if any human had contact with the potentially exposed dog. You should follow up with your veterinarian about updating vaccines and report any behavioral changes. Fast action is advisable—monitor your dog closely and keep kids and other animals distanced until resolution.
100% Anonymously
Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential. No sign-up needed.
About our doctors
Only qualified doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.