I just got a shelter dog and he's been scratching and slobbering me all day. He was a stray before the shelter got him, should I worry about him giving me rabies? He was vaccinated three days ago but I don't know if he would have rabies from before. He doesn't seem aggressive to me, I'm just a worry wart who thinks I catch every disease.

How long did he live at the shelter? They wouldn't have adopted him out if there was any chance or signs of rabies. He doesn't sound at all like he has rabies. Relax! Love him right back. And give him a slobbery kiss from me and my cats!

He was there for almost a month. I do love him I'm just a paranoid person. Thanks ^^

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Originally Posted by JTSkibbles

He was there for almost a month. I do love him I'm just a paranoid person. Thanks ^^

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It sounds like he's happy to be in his new pack. Have you had a dog before and know how to train him?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

It sounds like he's happy to be in his new pack. Have you had a dog before and know how to train him?

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I've had two other dogs over the years, but I never really trained them beyond "Stop jumping on me" and "come" and "sit".

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Originally Posted by JTSkibbles

I've had two other dogs over the years, but I never really trained them beyond "Stop jumping on me" and "come" and "sit".

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What about potty time? I hope you won't be chaining him to a tree in the backyard.

If he was in the shelter for over a month, with no symptoms of rabies, and then vaccinated for rabies (a vet would not vaccinate if there were any sign that the dog already had rabies) then he doesn't have rabies.

Dogs slobber. Some slobber because they're hungry, thirsty, it's hot out, or they're just really excited. Etc. etc.

Dogs also scratch. They dig, they scratch themselves when itchy, they'll paw at their humans and other dogs and if their nails are too long they'll scratch you.

You need to learn more about dogs, and dog behavior, and spend time teaching this new dog what's acceptable and what's not, in a calm, patient manner.

Based on your post, and I don't mean this to be harsh, I really question if you should even have a dog. You seem much too stressed and uneducated about dogs to deal with a rescue, or any other pet.

I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder but I've successfully had dogs in the past. OCD just makes random little worries hard to let go of, where as normal people can just forget them. This is why I needed other people to tell me I was being silly and I shouldn't worry about this thought of rabies. So it's not as if I'm inexperienced with animals, I just have a tendency to get stuck on illogical thoughts. Personally I feel having a pet helps me with my issues.

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Originally Posted by JTSkibbles

I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder but I've successfully had dogs in the past. OCD just makes random little worries hard to let go of, where as normal people can just forget them. This is why I needed other people to tell me I was being silly and I shouldn't worry about this thought of rabies. So it's not as if I'm inexperienced with animals, I just have a tendency to get stuck on illogical thoughts. Personally I feel having a pet helps me with my issues.

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You need to educate yourself. I do think that animals help people with issues. I'm all for people with mental issues having pets to help. But this dog also has issues, as a rescue. I'm not sure that you're in a position to help him with his issues because of all your fears.

I understand OCD. But let's look at this logically. Dogs slobber. You worrying that a vaccinated dog will give you rabies, is illogical. It's not just silly, it's ridiculous. How are you going to care for this dog when everything he does will set you into a panic? What if he pees in the house? How are you going to handle that? What if he growls? How are you going to handle that? What if he gets sick? What if he gets fleas? What if eats something he shouldn't?

You posted about something so minor, something everyone that's had dogs would know. It worries me that when something big comes up, you really won't be able to handle it, and that's not fair to the dog.

It was because he had only recently been vaccinated, I wasn't sure if he could already have had something. Despite my best efforts I couldn't find an answer to if vaccinating had any effect on a dog that could have already contracted rabies since he was a stray, and I know that the symptoms don't show up for weeks. The day I asked this question I was very sleep deprived, which only makes my issues worse. Asking questions was an attempt to educate myself. Everyone starts somewhere, and if asking a question about a concern meant that person shouldn't do something then nobody would ever get anywhere.

I've been dealing with his problems so far just fine. Pee on the floor? Done, cleaned up. Pooped too. Growl? Fine. Chew my hand playfully? Fine. As long as I know there isn't a problem, then it's fine. As I said, this was an attempt to find an answer.

My last dog was also from a shelter and he seemed pleased with his life.

I understand you just want the best for the dog. I appreciate the answers I've received here and will continue to do my best as this boy's new owner.

I will be asking the vet about any further concerns, if they come up.

If your dog had rabies, it would be dead. If your dog possibly has rabies, you need to contact the humane society and express your concerns with them. Unless you are in an area that has been seeing a lot of rabies, they may put the dog on a rabies quarantine.

Is there a reason you think this dog has rabies?

"The first symptoms of rabies may be nonspecific and include lethargy, fever, vomiting, and anorexia. Signs progress within days to cerebral dysfunction, cranial nerve dysfunction, ataxia, weakness, paralysis, seizures, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, abnormal behavior, aggression, and/or self-mutilation."
CDC - Rabies

The rabies vaccine is tests each batch on a test animals. If those animals test positive during testing than that means that batch of rabies vaccines is not protecting against the virus and that batch is not released to the public.

I don't quite understand why you are worried that your dog has rabies. If you are concerned, you need to speak with your vet and the shelter. Rabies is not just something to post online your concerns because the dog was a stray. Rabies is lethal and transmittable to people and isn't something that you should just "wonder" about.

I doubt your dog has rabies.