Rabies from scratches

[Hyposcared]

Hiya
Searching through the site I have come across a few rabies fears and stories, although nothing which quite settles my fear.

While in Koh Pha Ngan in thailand on the 29 Nov 2012 I came across a very cute puppy playing in some marsh like grass and chewing a coconut husk. The puppy had a collar on it. Without thinking I called to the puppy which came bounding over to me in a very friendly and playful way. It wanted to play and softly scratched at my leg. Its nails were extremely sharp (as young puppy nails are) but the scratches did not break my skin. Only one of the scratches left a red raised mark. As I walked away from the puppy it softly nipped the back of my leg, again not breaking skin nor leaving any marks at all.

A few minutes after walking away I began to panic about rabies (as it is supposedly very prevalent in Thailand). Within 10 minutes after the puppy nipping me I found a clinic and asked if I could wash my hands and legs. Unfortunately the nurses could not speak English and were not very helpful in giving me advice about rabies and whether I should start taking the vaccination shots. I washed my leg with soap, however did not wash it very thoroughly.

After leaving the clinic I went into a pharmacist and found a very young Thai guy who could speak better English. I showed him the red raised scratch and explained what happened. He said I should not worry about rabies. I bought some hand sanitiser and used it on my leg to clean it again.

Having returned home I have become considerably anxious about having been exposed to rabies especially since I have been experiencing very mild yet consistent headaches (mostly on the sides and back of my head), a dizzy feeling, and last night I vomited a number of times.

I have been taking doxicyclin (malaria prophylactic) and while in Thailand I did become very ill the night before the puppy incident. Throughout the rest of my trip after the incident I remained ill with congestion, fevers, headaches (very flu like symptoms). However things seemed to clear up (except the headaches) since returning home.

Does anyone have any advice for me?
Should I be worried about rabies?
Can I still receive the vaccinations at this point after exposure?

I have spoken very briefly with my doctor about the incident, he does not think I have rabies but did send me for an array of blood tests today.

Just feeling very freaked out.

Sorry for the long post

[AlaskaMom]

I would not worry about rabies from that incident at all. Really and truly, I seriously doubt that little puppy had rabies. I know rabies is more prevalent in other countries, but I really don't think you contracted rabies from a minor superficial scratch from a puppy showing no signs of rabies.  I hope you feel better and can put this out of your mind.

[MOchp]

The chances of you getting rabies from the situation you describe are pretty much 0. A puppy would of most likely been killed by anything rabid that would of attacked it. This is the same reason rabies isn't usually seen in smaller animals like squirrels. It was playful like a puppy is and wasn't being aggressive, so that lowers the chances of it having rabies even lower. The virus is transmited strictly through the saliva of an animal, and is only in the saliva when it reaches the brain and moves to the salivary glands and saliva. The animal would of not been acting playful and normal if that was the case. The scratch didn't break the skin, and even if it did scratches aren't the common way of transmitting the virus. It is possible for a rabid animal to lick it's claws and immediately scratch somebody, break the skin and it be transmitted that way. This isn't as likely though because the virus doesn't survive long outside of the body and doesn't survive outside of the saliva, which saliva from licking it's claws would of dried pretty fast. The nip is normal playful puppy behavior and also didn't break the skin, so yeah. I would not worry about rabies at all.

[Hyposcared]

Thank you so much for your replies. It is an almost paralyzing fear that consumes me as I sit and think about how a moment of poor judgment could land up in unnecessary death from a virus which has a vaccine! It really helps to hear both of your replies with your logic and reasoning.