Management of Dog Bite from Vaccinated Pet
Confine the vaccinated toy poodle and observe it for 10 days while the bite victim receives immediate wound care; do not initiate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis unless the dog develops signs of illness during observation. 1
Immediate Wound Management
Wash the finger wound thoroughly with soap and water for approximately 15 minutes as soon as possible—this is the single most effective measure to prevent rabies transmission. 1, 2
Irrigate gently with water or diluted povidone-iodine solution without damaging surrounding tissue. 1, 2
Avoid suturing the wound to allow for drainage, particularly important for finger bites which are high-risk for infection. 1, 2
Administer tetanus prophylaxis if the victim's immunization status is not current. 1, 2, 3
Consider antibiotic prophylaxis given this is a finger bite (high infection risk) and if presentation is delayed beyond 8-12 hours. 2
Dog Observation Protocol
The critical management decision hinges on the dog's vaccination status and availability for observation:
Confine the toy poodle and observe it daily for 10 days since it is healthy and available. 1, 4, 3
Do not vaccinate the dog during the observation period—this prevents confusion between rabies symptoms and vaccine side effects. 1, 4
Have a veterinarian evaluate the dog immediately at the first sign of any illness during confinement. 1
Report any illness in the dog immediately to the local health department. 1
Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Decision
Do not initiate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis for the bite victim since the dog is healthy, vaccinated, and available for observation. 4, 3
However, immediately begin post-exposure prophylaxis if:
The dog develops any signs suggestive of rabies during the 10-day observation period. 1, 3
The dog becomes unavailable for observation (escapes, is lost). 3
If prophylaxis becomes necessary, administer:
Human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) 20 IU/kg body weight—infiltrate the full dose around and into the finger wound if anatomically feasible, with any remaining volume injected intramuscularly at a distant site. 1, 5, 2, 3
Rabies vaccine series: 5 doses over 28 days (days 0,3,7,14,28) administered intramuscularly at a different site from HRIG. 1, 5, 2, 3
Critical Actions if Dog Develops Illness
Humanely euthanize the dog immediately if signs suggestive of rabies develop. 1
Remove the head and ship it under refrigeration to a qualified laboratory designated by the local or state health department for direct fluorescent antibody testing. 1, 3
Initiate full post-exposure prophylaxis for the bite victim without waiting for laboratory results. 3
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Never delay the 10-day observation period—this is the standard protocol for healthy, vaccinated dogs and allows safe deferral of prophylaxis. 1, 4, 3
Never administer HRIG after day 7 of the vaccine series if prophylaxis is started—it interferes with active immunity development. 5, 2
Never exceed the recommended HRIG dose of 20 IU/kg—excess suppresses the vaccine response. 1, 2
Do not suture the finger wound—puncture wounds and hand/finger bites have high infection rates. 1, 2
Report the incident to local health authorities immediately to ensure proper coordination of observation and potential testing. 1, 3
Key Distinction: Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Dogs
The dog's vaccination status from last year is crucial: a currently vaccinated dog is unlikely to become infected with rabies, which is why observation without immediate prophylaxis is appropriate. 1, 3 If the dog were unvaccinated or a stray, immediate post-exposure prophylaxis would be mandatory without waiting for observation. 3