Question!! Please read...

[Flipperk]

So I was doing my daily jog in my neighborhood when I noticed a small dog following me. I stopped and noticed it did not have a name collar but however it was well groomed, (the legs had long hair, the torso short). The pup was very friendly did not bite or show any signs of it wanting any harm, just attention. I petted it for a few minutes, his breathe did not smell and his teeth were white, overall good oral hygine. I made the conclusion it probably wasn't a stray and belonged to someone. I went up and down the street to see who owned the dog but no one had ever seen the dog.

Again the dog went up to several people extremely friendly even to other dogs, no aggression what so ever. The dog did lick me a few times but I have no open wounds on my hands. My girlfriend came and we tried to see if we could pick it up, but it seemed like it was hurt. It would not let us, it would cry out. No obvious signs of injury as the dog did run and jump up on us.

After we left the dog, (yes I know), I went home and took a shower but my girlfriend didn't. We hung out held hands and everything but she didn't wash her hands even though we handled the dog. We ate afterwards and I just got to thinking if it was possible that you contract rabies through this??? Like if the dog licked her shirt, I touched the shirt then ate...


I am not one to fool around with a disease like rabies so I am a little worried. Thinking back on it, chances are that the dog did have it's shot and that it had no symptoms at all of the disease. But it being hurt makes me think, it did not bite us but did lick our hands and of course my girlfriend says im being dumb.

I am thinking about calling the doctor about tomorrow morning to see if I need to do anything about it.



Thoughts? Am I being stupid and overly worried, or is it a genuine case to be worried?

[jimson]

I could be wrong but I believe rabies has to be transmitted via bloodstream.  Frankly I wouldn't consider petting a stray dog to be a big risk factor if there were no scratches or bites that occurred.

I am not an MD and I am not qualified to know for sure, but I wouldn't be concerned.

[Flipperk]

   .

[rpm]

Short answer, you're a hypochondriac.

If the dog was rabid it wouldn't be friendly, it would be aggressive.

[Seraphim]

Watch the movie Cujo. You'll see what a real rabid dog behaves like.

[Dragon]

You should be safe from rabies, but a dogs mouth is a feasting ground for all kinds of bad things.  Not washing her hands is just stupid, really.  I was my hands after messing with my own dogs, cats or iguana's.

If she made you dinner with those dirty hands you should give her a good spankin.

[Twizzty]

You definitely have rabies...only a matter of time before they have to put you down. 

[Ripsnort]

You should be safe from rabies, but a dogs mouth is a feasting ground for all kinds of bad things.  Not washing her hands is just stupid, really.  I was my hands after messing with my own dogs, cats or iguana's.

If she made you dinner with those dirty hands you should give her a good spankin.

Dragon your posts crack me up dude!
 

[Shuffler]

NO.... but you may get WTS (wagging tail syndrome).

[Dragon]

If your girlfriend starts getting the sudden urge to lick your b  er you know.  Gimme a call, I'm thinking of a business proposition.

[68ZooM]

You should be safe from rabies, but a dogs mouth is a feasting ground for all kinds of bad things.  Not washing her hands is just stupid, really.  I was my hands after messing with my own dogs, cats or iguana's.

If she made you dinner with those dirty hands you should give her a good spankin.

Believe it or not a Dogs mouth is far far cleaner and safer than our own mouths, i would rather be bitten by a nonrabid Dog than a Human bite and yes you should always wash your hands always before cooking or eatting regardless of what you've been doing

[Babalonian]

99.9% chance you'll be fine.  There's a greater chance of you catching a cold or flue from the dog via touch because one of the seven other strangers that handled the dog before you had a cold/flue.  Most diseases aren't cross-species, rabies being one of the few bad ones that can affect most mamals, but it's via blood, either you being biten/scratched + fluid from infected animal.

[oakranger]

I could be wrong but I believe rabies has to be transmitted via bloodstream.  Frankly I wouldn't consider petting a stray dog to be a big risk factor if there were no scratches or bites that occurred.

I am not an MD and I am not qualified to know for sure, but I wouldn't be concerned.

You are right.  The virus can only survive in a ideal environment.  Being exposed in the air, it has little defensive against the hundredths other bacteria that can kill it.  However, once it is inside of you, your body will through killer cells after it but dose little to stop it.  All they have to do is attached its self on to a red blood cell, develop new DNA/RNA and make a new virus of it self. 

Now, if you notice a rash on your skin, see a doctor. 

[morfiend]

 Rabies can be transmitted by saliva,you don't need to be bitten,any skin abrasion has potential to let the virus in.

 You should consult your MD. and try to locate the dog so it can be checked. Waiting for a rash or fever or other symptom is crazy,do you know what rabies does? Oh and just because the dog doesnt exhibit any symtoms means little if the dog is newly infected it may not show signs.

  On the other hand,you can wait and maybe have the shot{s} as a prevention or do nothing.... but do you remember that scene in Ol' yella.....  "He's my dog,I'll go do it."    the risk is just not worth not getting medical advice.


   

[Sonicblu]

Has there ever been a documented case of someone getting rabies from a dog?