# Bit. Rabies concern? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320 "2015-08-29T19:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/41 "2015-08-31T16:45:13Z")
> [@Deereman](#): > > Update: > > Talked to an urgent care and they weren’t too concerned about rabies, due to the circumstances, only infection from the dog bite. > > This morning, talked to the Animal Warden for that county (in the same place as the shelter). He was also not too concerned due to the circumstances, but the dog had already been placed in a 10 day observation and will contact us if anything appears bad. After which the dog will be put down I’m glad your wife is ok and won’t need to go through the shots. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/42 "2015-08-31T17:10:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > No, the vaccine in humans is good for 10 years. And it may last even longer. That was one reason it was easy to let mine lapse – once a year I’d remember, but a decade from now? > > In fact, I think I’ve let it lapse again. ☹ You mean I’m good against rabies for awhile? Then I’ll go out kitten grabbing again! Just kidding. I learned my lesson and will never willingly grab an unsuspecting and terrified stray kitten or cat ever again, regardless of how well are my intentions. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/43 "2015-08-31T17:22:51Z")
> [@phall0106](#): > > You mean I’m good against rabies for awhile Sort of. My understanding is if I’d been up on my vaccine, I would have needed just one booster shot instead of the whole series. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/44 "2015-08-31T18:17:07Z")
In the use, the difference between treatment if someone has had the vaccine vs not is that a vaccinated person does not get the serum (one of the shots given to people who are exposed but have not vaccine). This already has some anti-rabies antibodies, to kickstart it while the body produces more. It is assumed that, since you already have the vaccine, you at least have a baseline of antibodies circulating around against the rabies virus. Or can quickly produce them. The vaccinated person still gets boosters of the rabies vaccine, only they may also not get as many of them as the unvaccinated person (ie, doesn’t need the whole series). ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/45 "2015-09-02T00:03:27Z")
I know we all think of rabies in carnivores, but cattle can get it too. Pissed off holsteins or beefmasters, there’s a horror movie in that. A slow moving cinematic masterpiece filled with crazed cud chewing , 4 stomached machines of death…knocking down fences to attack priuses (prii, whatever) and trampling the clueless suburbanites at the farm petting zoo. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/46 "2015-09-02T00:55:37Z")
Herbivores tend to get the “dumb” form instead of the “angry” form of rabies, although they can be dangerous when they get the “angry” form (trampling, charging). In fact, the case above I mentioned that was rabies positive, it was from a cow. She had, maybe because of the disease, maybe not, also eaten some foreign body, so she was presenting with some dullness and GI upset. Well no wonder she was a downer cow, she had rabies. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/47 "2015-09-03T02:39:33Z")
I always just think of mammals when I think of rabies. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320/48 "2015-09-03T03:38:05Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > Herbivores tend to get the “dumb” form instead of the “angry” form of rabies, although they can be dangerous when they get the “angry” form (trampling, charging). > > In fact, the case above I mentioned that was rabies positive, it was from a cow. She had, maybe because of the disease, maybe not, also eaten some foreign body, so she was presenting with some dullness and GI upset. Well no wonder she was a downer cow, she had rabies. Old Yeller caught rabies from a rabid cow (I think her name was Rose). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-rabies-concern/729320.md?page=2)