Dog bite

[MeMock]

I have been making lots of positive posts and threads recently about good and decent Thai people and people have been making comments about how refreshing it has been.

Well let me make another one (the start anyway) but this one has a nasty twist in the tail (pun intended) at the end.


As part of my back rehab I have been shuffling along the local roads for exercise.
Suddenly without warning a dog came up from behind and bit the calf on my left leg. It wasn’t that serious but enough to draw blood from four puncture wounds. I limped home and asked my wife to fix me up. By the time I got the 800 metres home my sister in law had already heard about it and wanted to know immediately whose dog it was. I didn’t know but gave her the best directions I could before she raced off on her motorbike to find the culprit. Apparently if someone gets bitten by a dog and you weren’t doing anything wrong at the time the owner of the dog is expected to pay some kind of compensation.
Within minutes she had found out that it belonged to the man whose car we have hired in the past. As soon as he heard what had happened he drove to my house and took myself off to hospital for some shots. 2.5 hours, 3 needles and a plethora of tablets later and I arrived back home.
It cost me 775 baht and it seems that the owner has to pay that. I said I really didn’t mind but was told to keep quiet as that’s the way it is done around here! He turned up later that night with the cash.

Today I had to go back for my second and hopefully final set of needles. I say hopefully because it all depends if the Dog which bit me shows any signs of being ill. If it does I need to have more next month and again in August. If the dog, come Monday, is still healthy then I am in the clear.
On our way home from the hospital the first time it was explained to the owner of the dog about the situation of checking the dogs health in a few days time. My wife also told him that night when he came around to sort out compensation.
This morning on our way back into hospital we drove past the house where the mongrel mutt resided at and I made some joke about running it over. My sister in law said I am too late as the dog has already been sold to the bucket truck. (buyer who trades buckets for dogs which are then exported to the dinner plates of hungry Vietnamese people. I almost ran of the road in sheer anger. I can no longer now check the health of the dog which means I have to do the entire course of treatment. 2 more trips to hospital, 4 more needles, 400 hundred more baht. I might not even be here in August which would mean an expensive trip to the Dr's back home. Grrrrrr

[JoGeAr]

^Rabies?

[JoGeAr]

Nasty thought. A (possibly) rabid Memock !!

[melvbot]

Today I had to go back for my second and hopefully final set of needles. I say hopefully because it all depends if the Dog which bit me shows any signs of being ill.

Poor dog, what nasty canine life threatening diseases are you carrying? I bet it catches a bad back before it gets served up.

[MeMock]

^^ Would you even notice the difference?

[MeMock]

Today I had to go back for my second and hopefully final set of needles. I say hopefully because it all depends if the Dog which bit me shows any signs of being ill.

Poor dog, what nasty canine life threatening diseases are you carrying? I bet it catches a bad back before it gets served up.

I would like to find out how many buckets he got because of the extra 'farang' seasoning his mutt had.

Actually after the dog bit me it backed off and sat there staring at me with a puzzled look on his face. I reckon it couldn't work out what had happened as he had never encountered a calf muscle quite so big!

[November Rain]

That sounds a weird setup, MeMock. Usually, you have a set of 5 rabies vaccines over lengthening periods of time. They don't usually wait until the dog becomes ill.

Having said that, it's highly unlikely the dog has anything that can be transmitted to you. Still very painful and the bite could become a little infected (I'm assuming an antibiotic is in that plethora of tablets?)

Sorry to hear about your injury, but I must say I think the 'secrecy' is a bit suss. How many others might this dog have bitten? The owner really needs to make sure he's enclosed somewhere & can't do this.

[kingwilly]

Nasty thought. A (possibly) rabid Memock !!

you already is...

he had never encountered a calf muscle quite so big!

show off!

but seriously, its all ashame. sorry to hear.

hope your ok.

[spiff]

Today I had to go back for my second and hopefully final set of needles. I say hopefully because it all depends if the Dog which bit me shows any signs of being ill. If it does I need to have more next month and again in August. If the dog, come Monday, is still healthy then I am in the clear.

Sorry, but this sounds too funny.

The dog needs to be sent for a check-up to see if it's still healthy a few days after biting you?


Anyway, as NR said, the dog is unlikely to have any transmittable illnesses as he has an owner and should have had all the injections recommended for the region. The authorities tend to be rather strict about this.

[DrivingForce]

My sister in law said I am too late as the dog has already been sold to the bucket truck. (buyer who trades buckets for dogs which are then exported to the dinner plates of hungry Vietnamese people. I almost ran of the road in sheer anger. I can no longer now check the health of the dog which means I have to do the entire course of treatment. 2 more trips to hospital, 4 more needles, 400 hundred more baht. I might not even be here in August which would mean an expensive trip to the Dr's back home. Grrrrrr

it sounds to me like they already began preventative rabies shots on Memock with that many shots now and pending and were hoping to have more information before a second round was required to see if the dog under quarantine had more problems, but quarantine is the issue obviously he isn't any more nor was being kept very well before either so it's a really scary scenario, it's also really scary to think that if it does have rabies it could be handled and transported by so many different people and so far without knowing for sure..it's really fucking mindless to have done this so soon without quarantining it first..

take care MeMock and watch that bite carefully, dog puncture wounds are the worst.. I hope you have some good topical antibiotic and don't let it heal over too soon use hot compresses on it to draw it out and allow it to heal from the inside out to prevent an infection....

[chitown]

My wife was bitten by a monkey in Lopburi and she had to get 3 shots over a 5 week period. Seems a bit strange Memock.

[MeMock]

Well stuffed if I know, I didn't really question it.

In terms of quarantine etc? Just because a dog bites someone it should be quarantined, that doesn't happen back in Australia as far as I am aware.

The dog seemed fine, all they are saying is that if it did start behaving strange then it might have some kind of disease and I will need more shots. If it appears to be normal then I just need the initial treatment.

Anyway, I am not really worried about my treatment but I appreciate your concern I just thought it funny how in just 3 days I could go from being so impressed with the owner of the dogs response to one of sheer amazement at his stupidity.

[chitown]

They did not capture the monkey, but he was one of hundreds. She got a rabies shot the first day and just two after that. To be honest, I was more worried about the monkey having HIV than aids as I had heard that monkeys are sometimes carriers.

[DrivingForce]

In terms of quarantine etc? Just because a dog bites someone it should be quarantined, that doesn't happen back in Australia as far as I am aware.

absolutely!! even if they have a vaccination record but most especially if they don't..definitely a quarantine period of at least a week should take place but it could be as little as 3 or 4 days..

Did anyone ask if this owner had any documentation of his vaccines? not sure about the records here but in the states we have license tags on their collars to demonstrate they've been vaccinated..

The dog seemed fine, all they are saying is that if it did start behaving strange then it might have some kind of disease and I will need more shots. If it appears to be normal then I just need the initial treatment.

except it wasn't fine if it bit you for apparently no reason..anyway quarantine doesn't necessarily mean in a kennel but most definitely where it can't be in contact with humans besides it's owners, it is a requirement in every state I know of in the US when ever any animal bites..You are not allowed to move the animal from it's current location it is a felony...unless to a vet, kennel or somewhere like that..

AKA rabies......but just not openly saying that as is the Thai way..either out of misunderstanding or just plain avoidance..

o be honest, I was more worried about the monkey having HIV than aids as I had heard that monkeys are sometimes carriers.

I'm quite certain in your haste you meant to say rabies?

yes HIV started in monkeys, hepatitis is a concern too..they can carry many illnesses dangerous to us given the genetic similarities..

[Texpat]

^12^ They're likely tetanus shots, not rabies...

[MeMock]

Did anyone ask if this owner had any documentation of his vaccines?

DF, I live in rural Thailand, they don't even have names for their dogs here. They are unloved pests that are only thrown some left over sticky rice to keep them barely alive because they provide security to the owners property.

Vaccines for a dog, completely unheard of.

[DrivingForce]

sorry Tex not likely 3 of them...no need for 3 tetanus.. and then follow up shots too?? no...not likely..maybe some antibiotics but he also said he got pills as well so they are more likely antibiotics as it usually isn't that urgent to require antibiotics by injection..

[DrivingForce]

Did anyone ask if this owner had any documentation of his vaccines?

DF, I live in rural Thailand, they don't even have names for their dogs here. They are unloved pests that are only thrown some left over sticky rice to keep them barely alive because they provide security to the owners property.

Vaccines for a dog, completely unheard of.

ok..well then be very cautious and now I'm more convinced than ever that they began you on the rabies vaccines for good measure and with the dog now gone you better keep them going and notify the moron that he should have kept the dog until it was certain and cleared and now he has more doctor bills coming his way for his stupidity....

*edit* let me also say that if you were not started on a rabies vaccine than you should see about it anyway under your circumstances but now it is important for you to check with the doctor and get more info..

JFYI not all animals with rabies show a lot of symptoms in the early stages they just get aggressive. it's not until advanced stages of severe dehydration that they begin to froth and foam at the mouth etc..

you also mentioned he gave you a strange blank look after he bit you and though I'm not trying to overly concern you I want you to be concerned enough to take further action and not be complacent as that is a possible symptom of rabies as they are not sure why they are biting as they are losing their minds from the illness.. so confusion and a bewildered look after a bite is a common enough symptom..

[November Rain]

except it wasn't fine if it bit you for apparently no reason

Sorry, DF, that's bollocks. Who knows what was 'reason' in the dog's head? I've known owners who have trained their dogs to chase their motorbikes then surrendered them to me when they (duh!!!) chased other motorbikes and caused accidents. Lord knows what experiences the dog had that may have prompted him to bite. They need not be physical ailments.

I still maintain the chance he had anything is miniscule (hydrophobia is fairly noticeable!), take your antibiotics & pills & try not to worry, Memock.


BTW, the owner is a total coont both to you & his dog, IMO.

[Texpat]

I got a tetanus shot less than two weeks ago.

The hospital scheduled the second and third for two weeks later and a few months later (don't have the slip handy)

But maybe you're right, DF, and I'm just imagining all of it ...

[somtamslap]

BTW, the owner is a total coont both to you & his dog, IMO.

For sure, biggest wanker in this scenario is the 'owner'. erm actually 'owner' is the wrong word to use, Prick fits better.
Nevermind though, just finish your course of shots, even though the odds are stacked massively in your favour..

[DrivingForce]

Sorry, DF, that's bollocks.

sorry no it's not NR dogs shouldn't bite for no reason just out of the blue it's not like he cornered it or anything it just came up from behind without provocation, your taking it to literally..and anyway all I'm saying is that he shouldn't take this casually there's nothing wrong with getting good advice and not TD advice.There is no second chance to get it wrong..

on second thought Memock just don't worry I couldn't care less I don't need the ridicule for trying to help and my advice is sound and based on empirical experience take it or leave it, it's up to you..

[DrivingForce]

They need not be physical ailments.

did I say physical???

[DrivingForce]

I still maintain the chance he had anything is miniscule (hydrophobia is fairly noticeable!), take your antibiotics & pills & try not to worry, Memock.

yeah do that Memock sound advice....good luck and take care.. this is the first time I absolutely don't agree with you NR... you're way off base and being quite complacent and irresponsible..

[MeMock]

DF, before you posted # 22 I had already sent you a green thanking your for your advice.

Like I said before I started the thread just as a yarn about Thai people, he good and the bad but nothing wrong at all in my book if some good advice comes my way as well.