is me again with rabbies

[kousman]

i went to see a doctor and he actually gace a post exposure treatment without IRG's. The reason he decided not to put me on those was that my scenario (using a spoon 3minutes later after a dog that has been acting strangely licked previously) is not seen as a  necessary and treathful. Now will u consider his advice something sound or should i go another doctor to get an IRG shot. i already receive two vaccins shots so far and it only has been a week after my encounter. PLease help me out since I do not want to be another statistics of a doctor malpractice. thanks

[Jennifer Mathis, D.V.M.]

Honestly is it up to your public health department and the doctor(s).  He is likely right, but to know for sure - can the dog be seen by a veterinarian? Is it your dog?  Is it a stray dog?  Was the spoon dry?  What vaccine shots did you receive? If you are comfortable providing your email address, I can send you the 30 page instructions on what to do in case where rabies should be considered so you can read it yourself.  Where do you live?  Is rabies more endemic there?

[kousman]

it was a stray dog and it happens while i was in africa on a vacation trip. In regards to the spoon im not sure if it was dry or not but i used to serve myself a corn flakes type of meal which is eated with milk. So in other words, i saw the dog licking the spoon, he was used away, me not thinking much of it, i used that spoon to serve myself the grains meal, dipped it with milk and then with another clean spoon eat it (from the time of the lick to the time of eating the meal was about 2-3 minutes). Now by the time does the virus dies being outside the host or does it survive in a wet environment (milk used with the meal)

[Jennifer Mathis, D.V.M.]

If the spoon dried before placing in milk, if it was rabies that was shedding from the dog (unlikely) using it would not matter.  If the spoon was wet before using it in anything, it is possible to be around, but still unlikely.  What to do is based upon your public health department and the physician treating you.