Rabies

[xinzhou]

I bought a puppy from a rural kennel in a northeastern state three weeks ago. The breeder said she kept the puppy both at home and in the kennel. I took the puppy to the vet the same day for an exam and some shots. The puppy was healthy and has been behaving fairly normally, except that it likes to bite gently or nip as a part of playing. This morning he nipped my wrist and a little blood came out. Because the puppy is only 10 weeks old, he is too young for the rabies vaccine in my state and as a result he is not vaccinated against rabies (he will receive the shot when he is 12 weeks old). The nip left a slight nick in my hand which bled a little, but I washed it with disinfectant and put neosporin on it right away. Should I be concerned about the possibility that my dog might have given me a dangerous disease such as rabies? He is not exhibiting any unusual behavior. He simply likes to nip when playing. I have been discouraging him by offering him chew toys, but this morning that small accident happened.

[Daveyo]

Relax, this is called a puppy love bite. However don't let it bite hard. You can train him. I got 12 dogs with me, and they all nip at me on the legs and arms and hands, but none of them bite me. They have this gentle touch and they know not to bite me at all. So they play and play with me all the time, steal my socks, hide my shoes, rip up my underwear, destroy my shoes, and then look at me with those innocent eyes saying I did not do it.

Treat your hand and guard against infection please. Since it is a puppy, those teeth are indeed razor sharp. Wear some gloves next time OK.

Have fun.

[xinzhou]

Thank you very much Dave. You're right. My MD and my vet both confirmed what you have said. By the way the puppy's original nip was very small and superficial, and he hasn't done it again to the same degree (just bloodless and mild nips). My doctor said the only concern with puppy nips is that the owner should have a tetanus shot, and I had one last year so in that sense I am covered.

Thanks for taking the time to post a reply. I admire the fact that you have so many dogs.

Sincerely, Peter

[Daveyo]

Actually the real time for a tetanus shot is usually when you get punctured by a rusted object like a rusted nail, or cut from a rusted steel etc.

Dog bites such as puppy love bites - NNNNNNAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWW Oh you so cutey pie, you bit my hand, cause you love me so much.

Hmmmm, oh well, I at one time made a mistake. Somehow my Schnops who likes being the alpha here got into a spat with Max his son, (and his son is twice the size of Schnops) and I saw it coming out of having dog sense now, somehow my left hand was right in line with both of their fanged teeth and oh man I got it both ends of my hand. It hurt like heck. Oh they at that instant realize they nailed my hand as I yelled out clutching it, blood coming out and they ran for cover cause they know NOT TO BITE ME. It is still healing up as I write here.

You should have seen the apology coming from both of them after it happened. Tails between their legs and crawling slowing back to me whimpering I am sorry daddy. They did see the glare from my eyes and they went backwards crawling under the couch. They waited another 5 mins and did the same thing both of them side by side.

Too bad I did not film this. It was funny as hell to see how my kids apologize, first coming to me crawling on the ground and then backing up crawling, and then coming out crawling again later. But ever since then, they are much more careful now.

You can say I am Julius Ceasar to all 12 of my doxies.

As a matter of fact a friend of mine came over one time and I warned him that the dogs were out in the yard, and he said "no problem they're just Doxies I can handle it". Well, I said OK man, your on your own come on up.

I waited and waited, and kept hearing them barking. So I went outside and all 12 of my dogs had him on his back singing the xmas song 12 days of Xmas my true love sent to me.

I really had a shock seeing him on his back staying really still, and all the dogs looked at me asking me what to do with him since they were thinking of having him for breakfast???? So I said OK gang lets go inside, and all of them left him laying still on his back, and I said its OK you can come now.

Well he never did that again. He will wait for me to come down to grant him permission and when the Doxies see that, they are cool with him.

A father came over with his daughter and she hurt herself skinning her heels tripping over her own sandals and twisted her big toe in the process as she panicked for no reason, and all the dogs did was bark at her feet cause the sandals kept making a slapping sound as she walked. She left her father walking a few extra steps before he realized his kid was gone and running away from him and then she falls etc. The dogs never moved an inch just barked and looked at me and at the girl wondering why?????? Her Daddy and I wondered why she did that too, since she always played with my dogs as me and her daddy would sit on the lawn chair upper porch watching the whole yard having our chit chat and drinking tasty hot coffee, and munchin on snacks. Anyway her answer was the bark was too loud. Go figure???

Anyway take care