bit by pup (no shots)

[tampapup]

We just found a puppy about 3-4 months old, we were going to take him to the vets this weekend for shots but he just sliced my dumb open with his teeth....should I go to the hopital/doctors???

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

You should definitely let your doctor know that you were bitten by an unvacccinated animal.  Although very rare in the US, rabies still crops up in puppies, dogs, cats, and kittens routinely enough that you should be worried about it.

Odds are that everything is ok, but you do need to quarantine the pup so that you can monitor him for signs of rabies.   Talk with your veterinarian about quaratine procedures and let him/her know that the pup bit you as well.  They may want to hold off on a rabies vaccine until the quarantine period is over.

Good luck

[ginger899]

Gosh! I don't know.....maybe you should, to be on the safe side. You might need Tetanus shot. At least you could ask your doctor for advice.
I'm a bit "no-fuss" myself, about things like that, I usually just pour some antiseptic on or iodine, then leave it to Nature to heal, and it always does, just fine.
But I'm in Britain, and we don't have Rabies here, so I suppose you could be concerned about that?
I have a feeling you would be OK, but nevertheless to be safe 100% check it out with your doc.

By the way, it's great that you 'rescued' this little pup. Can't wait to see a picture of him/her??