Dog bite UK- no rabies vaccine

[Ruby1784]

I got bit by our friends small dog about 5 weeks ago , on my nose , it did break the skin and I straightaway cleaned the wound . I went to minor injuries at the hospital the next morning and they just prescribed antibiotics for 3 days and sent me on my way - I’m up to date with tetanus .

I do suffer with generalised anxiety and I’m now spiralling thinking about why they didn’t offer a rabies vaccine . I understand rabies isn’t common in land animals in the UK but I’m so scared that the dog might have had it . I did ask our friends and their dog is fine until now.

anyone had a dog bite in the past in the UK and was offered the vaccine ?

Dogs in the U.K. don’t have rabies. There is no risk to you.

Only for bat bites I believe
dogs in the uk don't have rabies, you'd know if it did anyway by this point because the dog would be unwell. Rabies really isn't an issue in the uk I wouldn't worry at all

As far as I understand the UK is rabies free? and if you were to develop rabies it would have happened a mere days after the bite, not 5 weeks after. I would seek help to assuage the anxiety, as the nip on your nose will be fine.

There is no rabies in the UK except for bats.

Why would you be offered a rabies vaccination (no point after the bite anyway surely?) there's no rabies in dogs in the UK, we're very lucky

I don't think you understand how vaccines work OP. The only people who get rabies vaccine in the UK are those who work with bats as a preventative measure.

thanks for your comments all - that is reassuring . I’m originally from Canada where rabies is very common in wild animals and sometimes in dogs - they usually offer a vaccine following any dog bites and my mom put it in my mind that I should have received one . It’s great that dogs in the UK don’t have rabies

@Katiesaidthat i believe the incubation period according to the NHS is between 30 and 120 days hence why I started thinking about this

@Toastandmarmaladeisdelish we are lucky indeed - I do know however that they can offer a vaccine if you are considered at risk following a bite ( for instance if you have travelled abroad or got bit by a bat ) not sure how that works but it seems like it’s possible

I've had the rabies vaccine for travel in SE Asia, if you are unlucky enough to get bitten by a rabid dog then the vaccine only actually offers you time to get the rabies immunoglobulin I think if you've a weakened immune system. It's a dreadful disease definitely. We are so lucky in the UK

Because there is no rabies in dogs in the UK?
Rabies vaccines can have some nasty side effects so are not given out for dog bites in the UK because it's not necessary.

Also the dog would be ill if it had rabies.

You could in theory get rabies from a bat bite in the UK but that's highly unlikely

Dogs in the UK don't have rabies.

And very very few bats do - see www.bto.org/bats-and-rabies#:~:text=There%20is%20currently%20an%20average,of%20EBLV%20in%20the%20UK.