Help!!! Dog ATTACKED by skunk! 2nd UPDATE post 18

[aggieterpkatie]

Someone help me understand. WHy does the dog need to be put down after 10 days quarantine? It was my understanding that after 10 days quarantine and no signs then the dog would be fine. Is that not right?

ETA: And I'm so sorry about this whole situation!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Quote:
that is the usual but the skunk is positive and some attack victims have taken longer than 6 months to show signs of infection!

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Quote:
Well, all my reading has told me that rabies IS more of a problem in 3rd world countries . . .

EDIT
For an animal to be able to spread rabies thru saliva, it has to be at the right progressive stage of the disease.
That stage is towards the end of the progression, and about/up to 14-18 days before death(really easy to judge a timeline that way isnt it?).
Just because an animal carries the virus, doesnt mean you can get it, even if the animal bites you.
The virus needs to have made it to the salivary glands, and this is indicated by over-production of saliva and the inability to swallow, hence the "foamy" mouth.

I have trapped many many many skunks in my time, and Im sure that some have been infected.
I just wash my hands with bleach cleanser, and be as careful as I can.
If I have cuts on my hands(which I usually do), I wear haevy leather gloves.

Rabies is something to be educated/concerned about, but I myself do not live in fear of it.
It is not as easy to catch as most people make it out to be, you have to be in the wrong place at the right time . . .

In the US, most cases of rabies transmission to humans from animals are from BATS.
And most cases also involve a bite.
Since around 1990, the number of reported/diagnosed cases has dropped by well over 200%, going from a couple hundred each year before 90, to less than a couple hundred total after 90.

For the record- birds, reptiles, amphibians,can not be infected by or pass rabies on . . .
Possums and lots of various rodents MAY not be infected or pass rabies on . . .

 

[cmjust0]

Wow.. I'm really saddened and surprised at the test result.. Everything sounded pretty normal to me in terms of the original altercation, so I would have bet anything that the skunk was negative.

So sorry.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Quote:
Sorry, this is not correct.

From the Merck Veterinary Manual

The emphasis is mine.

Transmission is almost always by introduction of virus-laden saliva into the tissues, usually by the bite of a rabid animal. Although much less likely, it is possible for virus from saliva, salivary glands, or brain to cause infection by entering the body through other fresh wounds or through intact mucous membranes. Usually, saliva is infectious at the time that clinical signs occur, but it is possible for dogs and cats to shed virus for several days before onset of clinical signs. Viral shedding in skunks has been reported for up to 8 days prior to onset of signs.​

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Hey redyre rotties, gimmi a break dude.
I gave accurate info, that I already know; show me 5 different online websites, and Ill show you 5 different sets of "accurate" info.
And I doubly suspect anything said by a vet concerning making a pet owner worrying themselves into buying shots and paying for extra vet visits . . . vets, imo, are crooks and only in it for the money.
I know I reccomended the OP taking her dog to a vet, but the problem is already known, it was a skunk check for rabies, no "tests and xrays" involved to "find out whatsa going on".

The point I was trying to make is clear, yes there can be occasions where my info would be inaccurate, but I dont really want to have a discussion/arguement about who is right or wrong on this poor ladies thread.

I gave some general info that everybody should consider, and generally speaking, I am correct on all my statements.

Besides, as one of the points I was making, tell me when 8 days, before clinical symptoms, is . . . .
But I can for sure tell you the dog is not infectious a few days after the bite.

Your emphasis should have only the 4 following words in bold . . .
Quote:

 

[chickenwhisperer]

And the main point I was trying to make is for the OP to not worry, the chances that her son would be infected by the dog licking him, are slim to none.

Could it happen- sure; will it happen- no

 

[allanimals21]

Karrie where in MN are you located? I live in central mn. I'm sorry to hear about your pup. We kill any skunk we see around here. Last year we had one hanging around outside the garage in the middle of the day. DF didn't shoot it. He should have. I tried to explain to him that it being up by the house during the day is not a good thing. We have many of our own animals around here and I don't need skunks hanging around.

 

[SillyChicken]

I guess knowing the skunk was indeed rabid does change things. Sorry about what you have to do.


We will shoot any normally nocturnal animal that is out during the day and up by the house or doesn't run away, they're already showing abnormal behavior and need to be dispatched.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

The Merck Veterinary Manual is the single most comprehensive electronic reference for animal care information. It is brought to you as a service of Merck & Co., Inc., providing quality medical information on a not-for-profit basis for more than 100 years.....​