HomeAnswersInternal MedicinerabiesIs it possible to get infected from a small cut on my foot and wear shoes exposed to dog saliva?

Are rabies re-vaccinations required even after completing the full rabies vaccine?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At May 5, 2023
Reviewed AtOctober 16, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I completed five doses of the rabies vaccine four months ago. In the same month, I had additional two doses. I live in an apartment where one stray dog always comes and sleeps outside my apartment. It also tore some of my shoes before. All shoes were kept under a sunshade outside. Last week I also had a small fresh cut or scratch with blood on my foot by hitting on the door forcefully and on the same day I wore one of my shoes with socks and went to my friend's house where I kept the shoe inside an air conditioned room until next morning. That next morning I wore it without socks.so my doubt is if saliva spilled on the shoes and wearing it with an open wound the next day could get me a rabies infection? Now I have high fever for the last two days and the dog is also missing for the last two to three days. I am worried now it has been nearly eight days. Do I need to vaccinate again or is it too late to get a vaccine or am I thinking too much? My doctor which I got my last rabies shot said the rabies vaccine gives immunity for three years. I have seen many websites say you have to get a booster dose every three-month gap after re-exposure. Does my previous vaccine still prevent me from rabies or am I already infected? Please give clarity to all my doubts.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query. You mentioned wearing one of your shoes, which was kept under a sunshade outside, which means saliva would have dried out completely in case it contained saliva (remember you do not know the rabid status of the dog yet it is just an assumption). Also, the rabies virus is short-lived when exposed to open air it can only survive in saliva and dies when the animal's saliva dries up. The most important question here is whether the dog contains rabies virus in the saliva or not and it would have dried up completely and no possibility of transmission. You completed five doses of the rabies vaccine four months ago and again two doses in that same month, which means there is an antibody titer level, and a booster of two doses is indicated if there is re-exposure after three months of a booster dose. Kindly follow up if you have any further related queries about it

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you, doctor. I have again one doubt. It has been passed three months so should I consider this an exposure and take the vaccine for the benefit of the doubt because I could not track the dog? What if I wore the shoe before it dries or does the virus survives for 10 hours under an airconditioner?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You do not know whether the dog is having rabies infection and your shoe was lying outside in the open environment which means that the saliva would have dried up completely then why are you worrying and complicating it based on assumption? This is not an exposure. If you feel too much worry I would request you to visit a local doctor and get a medical opinion about your query.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Basuki Nath Bhagat
Dr. Basuki Nath Bhagat

Family Physician

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