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The Answer:
Our Pittsburgh Dog Bite Attorneys are often asked: how do I determine if the dog who attack myself or my family was up to date on its vaccinations? Otherwise, the dog may have rabies.
In the absence of a vaccination, a painful course of vaccination shots is needed. First, here is how the CDC describes the process for both adults and children:
A regimen of four 1-mL doses of HDCV or PCEC vaccines should be administered intramuscularly to previously unvaccinated persons.
The first dose of the four-dose course should be administered as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses should be administered on days 3, 7, and 14 after the first vaccination. For adults, the vaccination should always be administered intramuscularly in the deltoid area (arm).
For children, the anterolateral aspect of the thigh is also acceptable. The gluteal area should never be used for rabies vaccine injections because observations suggest administration in this area results in lower neutralizing antibody titers.
What To Do Next
Secondly if you or someone you know was bit by a canine, you should immediately report the bite the Department of Health in your county. Understand, our Pittsburgh Dog Bite Attorneys practice mainly in Western PA. In Allegheny County, the info is:
955 Rivermont Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15207
412-687-ACHD
FAX: 412-578-8325
You should also call your local police, which may have received other complaints about the dog recently.
Primary Jurisdiction
Note that entity with primary jurisdiction to handle dog bites is animal control. Thus, the police typically do not create a separate report. Rather, the police rely on the report provided by the county level Department of Health.
To see what’s included in a dog bite report, click here.
For information about rabies, click here or here.
Need More Information?
Give our Pittsburgh Lawyers a call today.
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