One of the most serious diseases caused by dog bites, rabies can lead to symptoms such as pain, fatigue, headaches, fever, seizures, hallucinations, and paralysis. Rabies in humans is almost always fatal. Thanks to canine rabies vaccinations, the risk of getting rabies from a dog bite is fortunately rather low. Still, it is important to know what to do to prevent the risk of rabies after a dog attack. If you do not know the dog, seek medical treatment to prevent rabies. This is especially true if the dog showed signs of being rabid, such as partial paralysis, choking sounds, foam at the mouth, disorientation, or trembling.
Rabies vaccines after a potential exposure involve four doses of the medication at separate times. A doctor will administer the first dose right away and give additional doses on the third, seventh, and 14th day after the bite. You may also get a second shot right away, called the rabies immune globulin. It is possible to receive a preventative rabies vaccine, but typically one would only get this if he or she were at high risk of getting the disease, such as working with wild animals.