Question 1

is it safe to say that if saliva on an object or animal fur is dry, the rabies virus is no longer transmit-able? fully vaccinated cat went outside for an hour and came directly inside and rubbed on a freshly opened wound on my face. concern?

Accepted Answer

: You are very less likely contracting rabies with that scenario.

Question 2

my dog killed a small bunny in the yard and i pulled it out of her mouth, there were no visible cuts on the bunny and i didnt touch its face. i wasnt wearing gloves or anything, my dogs vaccinated but am i at risk of getting rabies?

Accepted Answer

: For rabies transmission to occur a bite from a rabid animal should occur, other infections remain possible, hands hygiene is critical.

Question 3

indoor cat that was not vaccinated escaped for 2 days. gave rabies vax immediately but how long do we have to worry about not touching his saliva? says that incubation can be a year but that vax reaches full effect in a month so when are we safe?

Accepted Answer

: Your cat is vaccinated and protected from developing rabies even if your cat was bitten by a rabid animal.  You are not at risk to develop rabies by toughing the saliva of your cat or by being bitten by it.

Question 4

my son about getting rabies from stepping in a puddle of saliva on the ground and touching his shoe with a cut on his finger/touching his mouth afterwards. i know his fears are unfounded, but he wants to talk to a doctor. thanks?

Accepted Answer

: Rabies virus is found in saliva of certain animals. An open wound in contact with saliva is a mode of transmission. Since you don't know where the saliva came from, contact your local health department for signs and symptoms, and possible treatment.

Question 5

hi, i just stepped on a roadkill beaver bone and was wondering if i could get rabies from touching my shoes and touching my mouth after. i was in westchester. thanks?

Accepted Answer

: I would check with Local Conservation folks and see if beavers ever get rabies. Usually takes a bite with a break in the skin. Virus needs to get into nerves as I recall. Saliva is the transmission fluid.  Not likely  bone. But as it is 100% fatal get opinion locally.  Best to find beaver remains esp brain and take to authorities.

Question 6

my son is concerned he could have got rabies from when we drove over a dead animal on the rode. he is worried he got it from walking where our tires drove than touching his shoes with his hands which have a cut, or from touching his mouth. thanks?

Accepted Answer

: Rabies is only transmitted via the direct contact of saliva or bodily fluids of the infected animal through an open wound such as a bite, scratch or other broken skin. Because this virus dies almost immediately in contact with air, there is no risk of catching rabies from a surface such as you have described.

Question 7

walking around at a park, unsure if dog contact happened by passing through touching, sniffing, or nose touching arm with open mouth. daughter has tiny bug bite scab on arm. is this type of contact a risk for rabies? dog was on a leash, unknown owner?

Accepted Answer

: Rabies transmission is not possible in above circumstances. Check cdc.gov which has reliable information regarding rabies transmission. Talk to your doc about your fears as health related anxiety is likely.

Question 8

yesterday a stray dog shake itself in front of me (very near). can rabies transmit to me via dog's saliva, through air?

Accepted Answer

Rabies transmission: Per the Centers for Disease Control:  The most common mode of rabies virus transmission is through the bite and virus-containing saliva of an infected host. Though transmission has been rarely documented via other routes such as contamination of mucous membranes (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth), aerosol transmission, and corneal transplants.

Question 9

will the saliva of a dog cause rabies?

Accepted Answer

Can if rabid: Rabies can be passed via the virus bearing saliva of an infected dog if that saliva gets into a break in the skin or is driven in with a bite.

Question 10

the first 4 days after being bitten by an unvaccinated dog, could my saliva be infective of rabies to people or animals?

Accepted Answer

Probably not: The chance that the dog had rabies is low, and for you to have a viral load high enough (even if the dog were rabid) to infect someone within 4 days is very very very low.

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Doctor answers about:

Rabies touching saliva and touching face

A member asked:

Is it safe to say that if saliva on an object or animal fur is dry, the rabies virus is no longer transmit-able? fully vaccinated cat went outside for an hour and came directly inside and rubbed on a freshly opened wound on my face. concern?

A member asked:

My dog killed a small bunny in the yard and i pulled it out of her mouth, there were no visible cuts on the bunny and i didnt touch its face. i wasnt wearing gloves or anything, my dogs vaccinated but am i at risk of getting rabies?

A member asked:

Indoor cat that was not vaccinated escaped for 2 days. gave rabies vax immediately but how long do we have to worry about not touching his saliva? says that incubation can be a year but that vax reaches full effect in a month so when are we safe?

A member asked:

My son about getting rabies from stepping in a puddle of saliva on the ground and touching his shoe with a cut on his finger/touching his mouth afterwards. i know his fears are unfounded, but he wants to talk to a doctor. thanks?

A member asked:

Hi, i just stepped on a roadkill beaver bone and was wondering if i could get rabies from touching my shoes and touching my mouth after. i was in westchester. thanks?

A member asked:

My son is concerned he could have got rabies from when we drove over a dead animal on the rode. he is worried he got it from walking where our tires drove than touching his shoes with his hands which have a cut, or from touching his mouth. thanks?

A member asked:

Walking around at a park, unsure if dog contact happened by passing through touching, sniffing, or nose touching arm with open mouth. daughter has tiny bug bite scab on arm. is this type of contact a risk for rabies? dog was on a leash, unknown owner?

A member asked:

Yesterday a stray dog shake itself in front of me (very near). can rabies transmit to me via dog's saliva, through air?

A member asked:

Will the saliva of a dog cause rabies?

A member asked:

The first 4 days after being bitten by an unvaccinated dog, could my saliva be infective of rabies to people or animals?

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