Hello people of Latvia!

I was out biking in Riga when I apparently scared a dog and got bit on my leg.

It seemed to be a normal dog with a normal owner, but unfortunately I didn’t inquire further so I have no idea if the dog was vaccinated against rabies.

Obviously the mark isnt large, and there was only like a microliter of blood. But what would you Latvian people have me do? Im not even sure if the hospitals here have post-rabies vaccine since Latvia is rabies-free since 2015

by Diligent-Ear-2555

30 comments

  1. how the fuck did you manage that. I’ve never seen a dog biting anyone since 19th century

  2. Have you considered the possibility that this is neither a hospital nor a medical diagnostics bureau?

  3. Better safe than sorry. If a dog had an owner then in theory dog should be vaccinated, but u never know for sure…

  6. Ahahahahaha… I’m sorry but do you also call ambulance anytime a mosquito “bites” you?

    Hope you recover from all those wounds.

  7. Latvia is basically rabies free. The chances are extremely low for you to get rabies here, especially if the dog had an owner.

  8. LOL no. Especially if the dog was with his owner. Currently Latvia is considered a rabies free zone, newest guidlines basically say no vaccine needed at all. If it was a fox in the forest- I’d consider. Dog with an owner walking- nah. 

  9. I’d rather get an unnecessary shot than risk dying of fucking RABIES.

    Which you will, if you get it. 100%.

    In some areas a scratch from a bat at night can give you rabies. Scariest thing – you don’t even know you were bitten. And when the symptoms start – you’re already practically dead.

    The chance to get rabies is much much lower in Latvia, but still. I wouldn’t risk it.

  10. You are 99.99% fine. I personally would not do anything in this case but if you have the time and money it won’t hurt to be safe

  11. Better ask a medical professional if worried about it.I have also got bitten by strangers dog but I went normally about my day,thinkin there low chance that I would get ill.I think there is law that a owner’s dog need to  be vaccited every year or pay a fine if like in they live in a city, not sure about dogs in rural areas thou.

  12. Easiest solution would have been to ask the owner, if the dog is vaccinated for rabies. Then you don’t need to get vaccinated.

    I know, it was in Riga, but was that a city dog, living in an apartment? If yes, then no need go get vaccinated.

    I was bit by a dog a few months ago, needed stitches. I got a single vaccinate at the ER. Afterwards, had to schedule an appointment at the Infectology Hospital on the other side of Riga. The doc had “a consultation” with me over the phone, asking the above things, and mentioned that “there haven’t been rabies in Latvia for around 10 years” and “if it wasn’t a wild animal” no need to continue to course.

    It takes up to a month for rabies to show, so I’d be dead by now, if the doc was lying.

    I had also asked at the time, if I could get the rabies vaccines at the pharmacy to manage the course at home, and I was told that it’s impossible as rabies vaccines are medicine under strict regulation… ’till now I wonder why, as it’s not like it could get you high?

  13. Rule of thumb- if you are bitten by any animal (in any country of the world), consider getting a professional medical advice from a real doctor.

  14. If the vaccination status of the dog is unknown, doctors will advise to get the shot. The vaccine is available. The chances of you actually getting rabies ar close to 0, however as others have pointed out.

  15. Contact LIC (Latvijas infektoloģijas centrs) or call ‘ģimenes ārstu konsultatīvais tālrunis’ at least. Free and anonymous.

  16. A rabid dog would even bite his owner, but get it checked anyway 

  17. naaah, you’re fine.
    Last time a human being got rabies in Latvia was once in 2003, before that once in 96. and 93.

    also, it was a small dog with owner… where could it possibly get rabies.

  18. I would not risk with something like that, as low as risk of rabies is, in Latvia.

  19. Go see a doctor. They’ll probably give you rabies shots and keep you for observation. If you cannot produce vaccination documents for the dog then you need to get the shot.

  22. Get a shot, rabies kills 100% better get some needles than die like a bum probably

  25. Dude, even if this reddit was full of world-class doctors, no one could tell if you contacted rabies by a photo of a bite.

    I haven’t seen any info on Latvia being “rabies free”. Even if Latvia almost eradicated stray dogs, there are plenty of wild animals like foxes or rats or racoon dogs that spread the decease. So it should be easy to get the vaccine. In any case, let the doctor check the bite. He will tell whether you need it or not.

  26. Latvia has been rabies free since like 2012. The chance that this particular dog (with an owner) has rabies is really small.

  27. rabies has nearly 100% death rate, I would not take any risks. Also good to get Tetanus shot, unless you had one during last 10 years.

  29. Are these all bots in the comments? Or people have actually lost their fucking minds? Why is everyone reccommending to get a rabbies shot?? Like wtf how can people be so brainless?

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