Dog Quarantine After Bites: Rabies Prevention Protocol
A healthy domestic dog that bites a person should be confined and observed for 10 days to determine if the animal develops signs of rabies, which would indicate the need for post-exposure prophylaxis for the bite victim. 1
Rationale for Quarantine
The 10-day observation period for domestic dogs is based on our understanding of rabies virus shedding patterns:
- Dogs infected with rabies virus can only transmit the disease when the virus is present in their saliva, which occurs during the clinical phase of infection
- A dog that remains alive and healthy 10 days after biting someone would not have been shedding rabies virus in its saliva at the time of the bite 1
- This observation period eliminates unnecessary post-exposure prophylaxis for people bitten by healthy dogs
Quarantine Protocol Based on Animal Type
Domestic Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets
- Healthy animals: Confine and observe for 10 days; no immediate post-exposure prophylaxis needed unless animal develops signs of rabies 1
- Stray or unwanted animals: Either observe for 10 days or euthanize immediately and test for rabies 1
- Animals showing signs of rabies: Euthanize immediately and test for rabies; begin post-exposure prophylaxis for bite victim 1
Wild Animals
- Wild carnivores (skunks, raccoons, foxes) and bats should be considered rabid until proven otherwise
- These animals should be euthanized immediately and tested rather than quarantined 1
- Wild animal hybrids (wolf-dogs) should also be euthanized and tested rather than observed 1
Other Animals
- Rodents (squirrels, hamsters, rats, mice) and rabbits rarely require rabies testing or post-exposure prophylaxis 1, 2
- Livestock exposures should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis 1
Signs of Rabies to Monitor During Quarantine
During the 10-day observation period, watch for:
- Hypersalivation (most significant clinical sign, OR = 34.6) 3
- Paralysis (OR = 19.0) 3
- Lethargy 1
- Any abnormal behavior or illness 1
Management of Bite Victims
If a dog develops signs of rabies during quarantine:
- Euthanize the animal immediately
- Submit the head for rabies testing
- Begin post-exposure prophylaxis for the bite victim without waiting for test results 1, 2
If the dog remains healthy throughout the 10-day quarantine:
- No post-exposure prophylaxis is needed for the bite victim 1
- The dog was not shedding rabies virus at the time of the bite
Importance of Immediate Wound Care
Regardless of quarantine status:
- Thoroughly wash and flush all bite wounds immediately with soap and water for about 15 minutes 2
- Apply an iodine-containing or similarly viricidal topical preparation to the wound 2
- Evaluate need for tetanus prophylaxis and antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection 4, 2
Risk Factors for Rabid Dogs
Higher risk situations that may warrant immediate post-exposure prophylaxis before quarantine results:
- Unprovoked attacks (more likely to indicate rabies than provoked attacks) 1
- Unvaccinated dogs (10.3 times higher risk of rabies) 5
- Stray/unowned dogs (4.5 times higher risk) 5
- Dogs that have bitten multiple people (4 times higher risk) 5
Regional Considerations
- In the United States, dog rabies is primarily reported along the US-Mexico border and in areas with wildlife rabies 1
- In developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, dogs remain the major reservoir of rabies 1
- In areas with endemic canine rabies, post-exposure prophylaxis may be initiated immediately after exposure 1
Conclusion
The 10-day quarantine period for dogs that bite humans is a reliable method to determine if the dog was rabid at the time of the bite. This approach prevents unnecessary post-exposure prophylaxis while ensuring that people exposed to rabid animals receive timely treatment. Studies have shown that rabid dogs typically die within 3 days of quarantine, while healthy dogs survive the entire observation period 5.