If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing
with something in the yard. I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. He took off horrified. I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
While the odds on you having contracted rabies this morning are
extremely small, I doubt you are going to find anyone to tell you positively that they are zero. (If you didn't know before, now you know not to play with a cat while its playing with its food) If there have been any instances of rabies in the animal population locally the vet should have known about it. Now, the part I totally failed to understand. You are a worrier. You have been through a situation where the chances of an infection are very high. The kind of infection where you might see no signs tonight and could wake up tomorrow with serious involvement. You have been to the ER and they gave you antibiotics. But you are choosing not to take them. Instead you are worrying about rabies. Get over yourself and work on your priorities! Jo "Candace" wrote in message ... This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. He took off horrified. I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
On Mar 14, 7:05*pm, "Jofirey" wrote:
While the odds on you having contracted rabies this morning are extremely small, I doubt you are going to find anyone to tell you positively that they are zero. (If you didn't know before, now you know not to play with a cat while its playing with its food) If there have been any instances of rabies in the animal population locally the vet should have known about it. Now, the part I totally failed to understand. *You are a worrier. *You have been through a situation where the chances of an infection are very high. *The kind of infection where you might see no signs tonight and could wake up tomorrow with serious involvement. *You have been to the ER and they gave you antibiotics. *But you are choosing not to take them. *Instead you are worrying about rabies. Get over yourself and work on your priorities! Jo I know but the only abx the guy would give me is Augmentin and--sorry to be graphic--the last time I took that, I had major GI distress. I can't have the trots and go to work on Monday. I told him this and he said Augmentin is the only thing for cat bites. I just can't have severe you-know-what for the next 10 days. I still have the leftover ones from the last time I got prescribed them--I guess I could take the over the weekend. I have to say--I've never gotten an infection from a cat bite or scratch and I've been bit and scratched a lot. It's hard for me to think this time is any different. Candace |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
"Candace" wrote in message
... This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. He took off horrified. I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! Oh man, Candace, I'm so sorry this happened to you. What a thank you for all you do for the strays in the neighborhood (yes, I know he didn't mean to do that, **** what rotten luck). First, calm down, you're going to be ok. If you have the hamster's body, they can test it for rabies. Did you report to the Urgent Care center that you had been bitten by Ebony? If you reported the bite they'll probably come looking for him or ask you to surrender him if he comes back - they'll keep him under observation for a period of time. At least that is the law in most states I know, unless you own the cat and know that he's had his shots. It is extremely unlikely that you have gotten rabies from either animal, but you have them both for testing/observation so at least you won't have to undergo the series of painful rabies shots unless either animal shows positive for rabies. Second, I'd go ahead and take the antibiotics even if you don't show any signs of infection - a cat bite is extremely likely to become infected, it's second only to a human bite in germs. Not to scare you more than you already are, but I read the story of a woman who almost lost her hand from an untreated cat bite. It's very likely to become infected deep inside the wound (the problem is their long but narrow fangs that can deliver germs deep under the skin in a hole that lets very little blood flow out to rinse out the germs). Taking the antibiotics as a prophylactic is your best bet to keep from having a whole lot more medical problems than you're already facing. I'm sorry, this was rather disjointed - I hope I didn't just scare you more than you are. I think everything will be just fine, but I can understand you worrying about this, gawd, I would too. Please let us know how this turns out. Purrs on the way for everything to be fine. Hugs, CatNipped |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
On Mar 14, 7:23*pm, "CatNipped" wrote:
"Candace" wrote in message ... This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. *I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. *My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. *I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). *I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. *They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. *I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. *The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. *He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. *I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. *Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. *The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. *Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. *He took off horrified. *I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. *I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. *I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. *There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. *How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. *Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! *Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! Oh man, Candace, I'm so sorry this happened to you. *What a thank you for all you do for the strays in the neighborhood (yes, I know he didn't mean to do that, **** what rotten luck). First, calm down, you're going to be ok. *If you have the hamster's body, they can test it for rabies. *Did you report to the Urgent Care center that you had been bitten by Ebony? *If you reported the bite they'll probably come looking for him or ask you to surrender him if he comes back - they'll keep him under observation for a period of time. *At least that is the law in most states I know, unless you own the cat and know that he's had his shots. *It is extremely unlikely that you have gotten rabies from either animal, but you have them both for testing/observation so at least you won't have to undergo the series of painful rabies shots unless either animal shows positive for rabies. That's just it--no one really gave a crap. They know a cat bit me, they weren't interested in observing him, they weren't really interested in the hamster's body, either. All they would have to do is test the hamster but I guess it costs $$ so I'm sure they won't care. I can already envision what the Public Health Dept. will say-- oh, you probably won't get it, no, we won't test it, blahblahblah--and therefore no dr. will probably give me the shots. They won't come looking for Ebony, they don't have the $$ to do that. If I want him observed, I would probably have to pay his boarding fee for a few months. No one will care, it's just the government. I guess I could make up some story about a stray, foaming dog biting me if I want to get the shots. The vet didn't seem concerned about the possibility of rabies, btw. Candace |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
wrote in message
... On Mar 14, 7:23 pm, "CatNipped" wrote: "Candace" wrote in message ... This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. He took off horrified. I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! Oh man, Candace, I'm so sorry this happened to you. What a thank you for all you do for the strays in the neighborhood (yes, I know he didn't mean to do that, **** what rotten luck). First, calm down, you're going to be ok. If you have the hamster's body, they can test it for rabies. Did you report to the Urgent Care center that you had been bitten by Ebony? If you reported the bite they'll probably come looking for him or ask you to surrender him if he comes back - they'll keep him under observation for a period of time. At least that is the law in most states I know, unless you own the cat and know that he's had his shots. It is extremely unlikely that you have gotten rabies from either animal, but you have them both for testing/observation so at least you won't have to undergo the series of painful rabies shots unless either animal shows positive for rabies. That's just it--no one really gave a crap. They know a cat bit me, they weren't interested in observing him, they weren't really interested in the hamster's body, either. All they would have to do is test the hamster but I guess it costs $$ so I'm sure they won't care. I can already envision what the Public Health Dept. will say-- oh, you probably won't get it, no, we won't test it, blahblahblah--and therefore no dr. will probably give me the shots. They won't come looking for Ebony, they don't have the $$ to do that. If I want him observed, I would probably have to pay his boarding fee for a few months. No one will care, it's just the government. I guess I could make up some story about a stray, foaming dog biting me if I want to get the shots. The vet didn't seem concerned about the possibility of rabies, btw. Candace ------------------ That's just flabbergasting! I got a bad scratch by a stray cat once and the hospital reported it and had animal control at my apartment house looking for the cat before I got home from the hospital!! Do they know how badly they are leaving themselves open to a law suit??? [rhetorical question already answered by their actions] Unreal. If you don't get any response to more phone calles I'd definitely get in touch with your local "action reporter" about this story - they love uncovering imcompetance in local government. In the meantime keep an eye out for Ebony and do your own observation and keep insisting that they test the hamster - over and over again going up the chain of command til you reach the mayor if you have to! Even if the chance of rabies in one in a million it's still not zero and your life is too precious to risk on allowing lazy beaurocrats to pass the buck! Hugs, CatNipped |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
You have done all you can do until Monday. Try to chill, as the grand kids
say. Those shots, from what I hear are nothing you really want. I think the health department may be more help than you think. If not you can figure where to go from there to get some help. wrote in message ... On Mar 14, 7:23 pm, "CatNipped" wrote: "Candace" wrote in message ... This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. He took off horrified. I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! Oh man, Candace, I'm so sorry this happened to you. What a thank you for all you do for the strays in the neighborhood (yes, I know he didn't mean to do that, **** what rotten luck). First, calm down, you're going to be ok. If you have the hamster's body, they can test it for rabies. Did you report to the Urgent Care center that you had been bitten by Ebony? If you reported the bite they'll probably come looking for him or ask you to surrender him if he comes back - they'll keep him under observation for a period of time. At least that is the law in most states I know, unless you own the cat and know that he's had his shots. It is extremely unlikely that you have gotten rabies from either animal, but you have them both for testing/observation so at least you won't have to undergo the series of painful rabies shots unless either animal shows positive for rabies. That's just it--no one really gave a crap. They know a cat bit me, they weren't interested in observing him, they weren't really interested in the hamster's body, either. All they would have to do is test the hamster but I guess it costs $$ so I'm sure they won't care. I can already envision what the Public Health Dept. will say-- oh, you probably won't get it, no, we won't test it, blahblahblah--and therefore no dr. will probably give me the shots. They won't come looking for Ebony, they don't have the $$ to do that. If I want him observed, I would probably have to pay his boarding fee for a few months. No one will care, it's just the government. I guess I could make up some story about a stray, foaming dog biting me if I want to get the shots. The vet didn't seem concerned about the possibility of rabies, btw. Candace |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
On Mar 14, 8:50*pm, Candace wrote:
This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. *I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. *My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. *I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). *I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. *They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. *I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. *The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. *He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. *I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. *Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. *The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. *Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. *He took off horrified. *I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. *I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. *I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. *There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. *How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. *Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! *Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
"Candace" wrote in message ... This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. He took off horrified. I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! Hi Candace, Unlurking a bit here. I am a microbiologist and I used to work in a Public Health Lab--I used to do Rabies testing all the time. Rodents, including hamsters, are considered to be a very low threat for Rabies and testing is almost never recommended. I can't give you a precise percentage but I would say it's much less than 1 percent. Is Ebony vaccinated? If he is, I don't think you really need to worry. The determination to either test for rabies or to get treated is partly dependent on the circumstances. If this were considered to be an unprovoked attack (if he had chased you down and bitten you) I would be a lot more concerned. As it is, Ebony was protecting his prize and it would be considered a provoked attack. No one can say that you have a zero risk of getting rabies but I think it is extremely low. Rabies is found primarily in the brain/nervous tissue and in the saliva, not so much in the blood. Unfortunately, testing the kitty means the cat would have to be euthanized (or possibly quarantined for 10 days or so). Post exposure treatment is not as bad as it used to be but still isn't much fun and is very expensive. Even if you live in an urban area, there can still be animals that are rabid--I would be much more concerned if you'd been bitten by a bat. Bats are notorious for being rabid--almost all of the cases of human deaths from rabies in the US are traced to bat rabies. I am much more concerned about you getting a very very nasty infection from Ebony's bite. Cat bites can cause hideous infections and can be very difficult to treat, especially if it is a deep bite. If I were you, I would try not too stress too much, call your Public Health Department and see what they have to say. And, get that bite treated!! Maybe the Doc can give you an antibiotic that isn't so hard on your tummy!! All the best, Bonnie PS Here's a link to CDC. It has some good info. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/types.html |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Help--Am I at Risk for Rabies?
On Mar 14, 8:50*pm, Candace wrote:
This morning, I noticed Ebony, one of the sweet outdoor cats playing with something in the yard. *I went out and he had some sort of rodent (I'm not a rodent expert) that he was batting around that wasn't dead. *My natural instinct was to get him away from it so I grabbed him and tossed him into a small room briefly--big mistake as his formerly feral ways returned and he bit the beejesus out of my thumb. Okay, I'm a psycho worrier. *I called one of my vet practices (one was distinctly unhelpful and it's the one I've been using the most lately, makes me reconsider). *I got the wounded but living rodent into a coffee can without touching it at all. *They identified it as a hamster that seemed neglected--either by having been out in the wild for awhile for just a bad home--as it's claws were long. I got myself into a tizzy worrying that this critter might have been exposed to rabies, Ebony chewed on the hamster, and then a few minutes later Ebony passed it onto me. *I went to an Urgent Care place and got a tetanus shot and some abx, whihc I'm not going to take as nothing appears infected at this time. *The doctor really didn't have answers to any of my questions. *He thought I had maybe a 1 percent chance of contracting rabies. *I asked--wouldn't there be an incubation period in Ebony before he could pass it to me and the doctor said--well, what if he had hamster blood on his teeth when he bit you (he also scratched me several places). So I've been reading up, of course. *Hamsters rarely get rabies but who knows how long this hamster has been outside. The hamster, btw, was euthanized and its body is in the freezer at the vet's. *The doctor told me to call the Dept. of Public Health on Monday and ask them what they think and since the body is available it cold be tested if they would do that. So, I know none of you probably know the answer either but do you think I need the shots and I wonder if they would give them to me or if they're just going to say--oh, no big deal, don't worry--and refuse to administer them to me. *Rabies sounds like a horrible way to go and it's always fatal if you get it. Keep in mind, I have absolutely *no* concerns about Ebony having rabies prior to this event. *He took off horrified. *I'm sure he'll come back to eat at some point but he was traumatized. *I should have just let him eat and kill the thing, at least I wouldn't be worrying about myself now. I don't know if rabies is around in wild animals here. *I live in a very urban area of Phoenix. *There are no large wild animals--no coyotes, foxes around here--but I've seen bats flying around sometimes, we have gophers, moles, and roof rats are in the area. *How do I know the hamster didn't have a run-in with one of those animals? And no one is going to know for sure, I suppose. *Maybe the Public Health Dept. will know if there has been any rabies in my neighborhood among wild animals or maybe they'll be totally unhelpful, as most govt. agencies are. Tony is out of town, I had planned on a nice, quiet weekend, but now I'm all stressed! *Any words of wisdom? Candace p.s. I do feel sorry for the poor hamster, too, but I'm mostly concerned about ME! Candace, I'm really surprised at the lax attitute you experienced from the health professionals. We had the dept. of health calling our house, because the docs were required to call them any animal bite. IMO your case should have been taken more seriously. Maybe it's because hamsters aren't prone to rabies. But you probably have been exposed to the blood/saliva of the animal through the cat bite, and rabies is NOT something to play around with. Another thing is, I've been treated for cat bites several times. They've used doxycycline, penicillin, and even once Cipro. I've never had Augmentin for a puncture bite. It's hard to believe that's the only antibiotic that'll work! Tell them the reaction you have to the drug -- surely they can prescribe a different one that will also be effective. I think the chances you've been exposed to rabies are practically nil, but on the OFF CHANCE the animal tests positive, one thing I can tell you is that the vaccination series is nothing as bad as it used to be. Please keep us posted. Sending best wishes that the hamster is NOT positive. As far as "words of wisdom" (don't make me laugh!)....watch the bite to be sure it doesn't get too red, or too swollen, or a red streak doesn't start running up your arm. If it does, hit your ER or Urgent Care clinic. They can administer IV antibiotics. Good luck! Let me know. I'm gonna be worried about you too :-) Sherry Sherry |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
KFW - Peek At Your Own Risk | GaDragonfly | Cat anecdotes | 10 | August 2nd 08 10:28 PM |
know about your health--are you at risk? | shannthimathi | Cat health & behaviour | 0 | August 24th 07 08:57 PM |
Reducing the Risk of your Cat Getting Knocked Down? | [email protected] | Cat health & behaviour | 3 | June 16th 06 03:09 PM |
Cats are at risk from Bird flu | Mike | Cats - misc | 0 | February 19th 06 08:58 PM |
Cats are at risk from Bird flu | Mike | Cat health & behaviour | 0 | February 19th 06 08:58 PM |