After 6 painful shots, I learned my lesson!

[Kyoko]

We had a beautiful weather today!!

Late this morning, I stopped at the park to eat my apple in the beautiful weather before heading to work. (By myself, without Charlie.) There, it was this little Scottish Terrier, well groomed with collar and tags were running at large. I thought he must got away from the owner, and the owner would be soon running after to catch him. I called it to come to me, and it did. So, I foolishly reached down to him, thinking I am going to be a good samaritan, until his owner got there. Before I knew it, he bit me.....I know I must have scared him more than anything. But he bit me like he was a big cujo.... My right hand swelled up and blood was running down my hand!!! OMG. I can't believe what just happed to me.... I never ever got bit by a dog.......

Well, the Scootish Terrier took off, and there were no one coming after him.... people at the park asked if I was OK, and stuff. But I wrapped my hand with napkin and quickly left the park. I uess I was in shock.

I thought I will continue to go see my client, but first stop at the near by hospital's emergency room since two of the laceration was pretty big and kind of deep, I thought I would need some stitches. Well, the doctor said that they do not put stitches on the dog bite, because of the bacteria in the dogs mouth can be bad if they get stitched shut in the wound. OK...that's fine. But then they said since I don't know anything about this dog, they would have to give me rabie shot!! OK, I will deal with that, too..... But, guess what? They gave me a tetanus shot, and 5 rabie shots!!! One on both arms, one on both tighs, and one in the biggest laceration..... Total of 6 shots!!! This was more traumatic to me than the dog bite itself...:-( I will still have to go back 3 more times to get 3 day shot, 7 day shot and 14 day shot, too!!!

After this ordeal, I learned my lesson..... Don't assume every dogs are friendly, even when they look well kept.

You know, I should have known better, out of all people.....

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh Kyoko, so sorry about this. I have also had rabies shots in Brazil when I lived there, but did not have a painful bite from a dog. But believe me, it is better to get the shots if you do not know the dog.

[selma seery]

So glad you are ok I woulld have done the same thing,you just never know!!

[Melissa & Porter]

...yet.

[Kyoko]

Wow... that was a lot of money.....
ER took my insurance card, and did not even ask for co-pay....

[Melissa & Porter]

Argh. My family had to get shots last May because of a bat hanging/flying around in our "sleeping areas" for two nights. I tried to catch it. The animal control woman tried to catch it. She and the pediatrician told us to go to the ER. I gave it one more night, trying to catch it so we could get it tested. Then I gave up and we started the shots. I eventually did trap it, but by then we were done.
If you have insurance, you absolutely do not have to pay the ER copay ($100 in my insurance's case) except for round one of shots. Your insurance and the hospital might bill you for each visit, but if you speak with a supervisor, they will waive the fee since they refuse to release the vaccine to primary care doctors. I was told we'd only pay for visit #1 ($500 for a family of five), but was eventually billed $2500. I only paid the $500.
Silver lining: we accidentally learned that one of my kids was not seeing much out of her left eye. (School and pediatrician didn't catch it.) So, yay for boredom in hospital exam rooms. She wears a patch to strengthen the eye now and it is improving.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, Kyoko, I just saw this, and I'm so sorry this happened to you! I would have done the same thing you did!
I remember hearing as a kid that rabies shots were given in the stomach, that they were really painful, and that you had to get a ton of them. But what you went through sounds bad enough. I am a big baby about needles, so I really sympathize!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

WOW! I am so happy you are okay. And this is a good reminder to be careful. Wow.

[Kyoko]

Wow, I wonder how bad it was then...., It seemed to be really serious still... I had to fill out the county animal bite report, etc.....( but I am right handed and my right hand was messed up! ) From the sections it had on the sheet, it appears that if a dog bite someone, it have to be quarantened.... or something. When I asked the nurse what would happen if I refused the shot, and the dog happened to be rabid, she said that I can die!! :-o scary!! I just hope that scottish terrier did not bite any more people before he got home....

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think the rabies series is significantly less difficult now than it was.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I knew someone who had to go through this when she was a child and felt strongly about the treatment being worse than the bite! It sounds like she was right. I am so sorry, Kyoko.