Raccoon update

[Aerows]

I got bitten by one. I went outside, and the damn thing bit me on the toe while I was talking on the phone. WTF?

[NutmegYankee]

1. You need to call animal control.

[Aerows]

3. Why in the hell did it pick me to bother?

My god. I can't go outside.

[NutmegYankee]

6. That may be a clear sign it is ill.

[CreekDog]

96. maybe it likes DU threads asking for medical advice?

[DRoseDARs]

4. ^Like, right now. Also, a doctor probably for shots. nt

[Katashi_itto]

133. GET A RABIES SHOT!!!

sERIOUSLY!!

[jwirr]

153. Exactly. They do carry rabies and a rabid animal will pursue you for no reason that you can figure

out. A cousin of mine was chased into his home by a rabid skunk.

[NutmegYankee]

185. I had already told her that in the other thread.

That it had attacked her again told me animal control needs to catch it.

[Aerows]

335. Called animal control

I got referred to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries because it is a wild animal. In other words, I pretty much have to get rid of it on my own.

[NutmegYankee]

348. Where do you live that is so resistant to serving their citizens?

[Aerows]

350. Hancock County MS

There is one hospital here, so they sort of think they are special. And animal control ... sigh. They sent a police officer out last month when the big ones rushed the door and since there was nothing there and it was daylight (they only show up at night) he said he couldn't do anything. I got referred to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. IOW, take care of it yourself.

[NutmegYankee]

354. I can see why people there probably think Gov't doesn't work.

Christ almighty, it's incompetent down there.

[Aerows]

355. I'm educated and I have lived in other parts of the country

It's like dealing with third graders at times, and I may just be being generous.

[pnwmom]

381. I live in a suburb outside of Seattle and also got no help from

the Dept. of Wildlife. Apparently the state is grossly understaffed for this kind of thing. I was concerned because there was a large raccoon in broad daylight stumbling around in our yard. My husband and I were worried about rabies, because it wasn't behaving normally. (We're used to raccoons around here.)

They said they couldn't do anything, but we could hire a trapper. I said that by the time a trapper came, the animal would be in someone else's yard. What was the point of that?

They said they couldn't help, even if the animal appeared to have rabies. I told them that my husband said this is the kind of thing guns are for. He didn't disagree, but pointed out that it is illegal to discharge a gun in my city.

It just wandered off. I never heard any reports of anyone being bitten. But it was very frustrating to know that they wouldn't do anything unless an animal actually attacked someone. But in your case, you WERE attacked, so that's even worse.

[Vashta Nerada]

2. You should really get a rabies shot.

Please see my post here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4284434

[Aerows]

7. I was talking on the phone outside, minding my own damn business

and it came right back by and bit me on the toe. That didn't break the skin, but obviously it wants my attention.

[LondonReign2]

112. Hmmmm

Did it look kinda like Dick Morris?

[dgibby]

328. It doesn't have to break the skin. You really need to call animal control and see a Dr. n/t

[MADem]

101. Isn't it "a series of rabies shots....?"

And I wouldn't screw around, either....that rabies is a bad, bad thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies

The rabies virus travels to the brain by following the peripheral nerves. The incubation period of the disease is usually a few months in humans, depending on the distance the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system.[2] Once the rabies virus reaches the central nervous system and symptoms begin to show, the infection is virtually untreatable and usually fatal within days.
Early-stage symptoms of rabies are malaise, headache and fever, progressing to acute pain, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, depression, and hydrophobia.[1] Finally, the patient may experience periods of mania and lethargy, eventually leading to coma. The primary cause of death is usually respiratory insufficiency.[2]
Rabies causes about 55,000 human deaths annually worldwide.[3] 95% of human deaths due to rabies occur in Asia and Africa.[4] Roughly 97% of human rabies cases result from dog bites.[5] In the United States, animal control and vaccination programs have effectively eliminated domestic dogs as reservoirs of rabies.[6] In several countries, including Australia, Japan, and Singapore, rabies carried by terrestrial animals has been eliminated entirely.[7] While classical rabies has been eradicated in the United Kingdom, bats infected with a related virus have been found in the country on rare occasions.[8]

....The period between infection and the first flu-like symptoms is typically 2 to 12 weeks, but incubation periods as short as four days and longer than six years have been documented, depending on the location and severity of the inoculating wound and the amount of virus introduced. Soon after, the symptoms may expand to slight or partial paralysis, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, paranoia, terror, and hallucinations, progressing to delirium.[2][9] Saliva production is greatly increased, and attempts to drink, or even the intention or suggestion of drinking may cause excruciatingly painful spasms of the muscles in the throat and larynx. Hydrophobia (fear of water), the historic name for the disease, refers to the dread of swallowing fluids these patients exhibit.[10][clarification needed]

[Vashta Nerada]

103. Well, yes. Yes it is a series of shots.

[Mojorabbit]

5. They normally do not approach and bite people

I would check with a doctor cause you might need to do the rabies shot. Is there a back story to this? Is it a baby? I do wildlife rehab but don't specialize in them though I have a ton of contacts who do. If it is an adult, please check with your doc as this is unusual behavior. If a baby then I am not as worried.

[Aerows]

11. It's a juvenile

I don't what to do with the thing.

[Mojorabbit]

13. Then I would call animal control

and I would go get the shots. It is not worth the risk to do otherwise.

[curlyred]

359. I would call the local paper and TV station too

This is bullshit.

[uppityperson]

15. Raccoon babies can be born with rabies. If it bit you twice, call animal control, sheriff or police

NOW to keep others from being bit also.

One bite happens. 2 means there is a problem with it.

[Aerows]

17. I'm going to the doctor in the morning

I don't know what in the hell is wrong with it. I can't even go outside without it being there.

[uppityperson]

24. Maybe it is sick. Maybe it has rabies or is sick otherwise. Call police, sheriff to have them get

hold of animal control to come pick it up so it does not bite others.

[MADem]

104. I'd go now--really.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies

[yellowcanine]

70. No - ONE bite means there is a problem. Rabies is assumed if the animal can't be tested.

Raccoons naturally run away from people - they don't normally attack them unless they are cornered. One unprovoked bite is a huge red flag with raccoons.

[Sissyk]

8. Aerows, you need to go get a rabies shot.

Now! Please, this is very important. Look up raccoons/rabies.

And, call animal control. They need to be gone. Once aggressive, they only get worse.

Please! I know you don't know me, so listen to your friends here. GO!!

[Aerows]

19. It has gotten beyond a nuisance, that's for sure.

It is the dangerous territory.

[mike_c]

9. now you must go to the hospital...

...and arrange for rabies vaccination. Seriously. Do not delay. And call your local county or municipal animal control agency-- they'll want to try to trap and necropsy the animal just in case. But rabies is epizootic among raccoons in much of the U.S., so don't piss around with that. Only a very very few people have ever survived it.

on edit-- just read your other comments. If it did not cut you at all, you need not worry about the vaccination, i.e. if it bit you on the OUTSIDE of your shoe or something. If it nipped skin, you should check with your doctor, who will invariably advise vaccination. I mean, there isn't much downside to getting the shot, but there isn't ANY upside to getting rabies. It's a death sentence. But definitely contact animal control and get the raccoon trapped and necropsied.

[Aerows]

27. I already have a puncture wound

from where it bit me earlier this evening.

[etherealtruth]

28. I am praying your next post is

"i have called animal control and am on my way to the doctor's"

And then 'Its all been checked out and I am fine"

[mike_c]

29. then there's no question you need medical care....

Ouch.

[Liberty Belle]

262. Actually you can get rabies just from saliva even if skin is not punctured.

I recall a case of a child who handled a rabid bat and got the disease that way. Play it save - if the bit touched the skin, get the shot.

[etherealtruth]

10. Hoping you check in with a medical professional

Seriously ... I know today is anti science anti medical professional day on DU, but this is important!

[giftedgirl77]

329. I know I'm a day late but seriously

what in the hell is going on around here? It's from one end of the spectrum to the other around here lately.

[etherealtruth]

332. I know

I honestly have no idea

[msanthrope]

12. Aerows, get your butt to the hospital. Seriously. If you are worried about cost,

remember that you can always ask for the charity program, or ask if the department of health will help you.

[uppityperson]

14. If it bit you twice, there is a problem with it. Once may be ok but twice? You need to avoid it and

call fish/game/animal control/police because if it bit you twice, it has a problem like rabies. Call at minimum police or sheriff NOW, animal control, fish/game/wildlife office tomorrow and you need to be seen by a health care provider.

One bit you can laugh off but 2 means you need to get checked out and keep others safe by reporting it asap.

[Aerows]

16. I can't go outside without it

lurking, waiting for me. I have no idea what I did to encourage it.

[uppityperson]

21. The IT may be very sick. If it attacked you a couple times, you need to report it NOW

because otherwise it may move on and attack someone else. Animals with rabies bite for no reason but the rabies virus gets passed on.

Do you have police or sheriff's number you can call? Rabies is nothing to pass off onto others.

[alphafemale]

191. Yes. It could be spreading it to other animals.

The animal needs to be shot.

It is in agony.

[Jamastiene]

64. If it is rabid, it is not in its right mind.

You just happened to be near where it is while it is displaying symptoms. They don't act right at all when they have it. So, it's not personal. It's just that you crossed its path at the wrong time while it is most likely sick.

Please call animal control and go to the hospital as soon as you can. It needs to be tested for rabies and you need to stay safe from getting rabies. It's awful. People CAN die from it if not treated.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. You were told call a doctor

and call animal control.

Let me join the rest on this. Coons tend not to do that, unless they are sick.

[Aerows]

20. I will

This is kind of a screwed up situation. Who knew wildlife would decide they would pack up at your house, and move the heck in?

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. I should intro you to my two parrots

by definition they are wild.



They run the house too.

So be glad the coon is not running them digs.

[LeftyMom]

22. You need to call animal control. Now.

That animal is almost certainly ill.

[uppityperson]

25. Seriously. If it bit a couple times, it is probably sick and needs to get picked up. Animal control

may be home, it being Sun eve, but call police or sheriff, depending on what you have where you are, and report it NOW.

[LeftyMom]

26. Usually the AC number says who to call in an after hours emergency.

[dem in texas]

30. Are you for real?

You have a raccoon that bites you twice and you say it broke the skin, and you didn't call the police. Someone needs to catch the animal if they can to see if it is rabid. If it can't be caught, you still need to get rabies shots.

The behavior of the raccoon was not normal and very much like the behavior of a rabid animal.

I was bit by a rabid dog once, it ran up seemly from out of nowhere and bit me on the leg. It was caught and it did have rabies and I had to take the shots. this dog was not acting normal, same as the raccoon.

[Aerows]

31. On the way to the hospital.

I am terrified at this point. Thanks everyone.

[Skittles]

35. you'll be fine

they will take care of you at the hospital

[Solly Mack]

36. Good.

[idwiyo]

40. Glad you are taking it seriously and are going to the hospital. Keep us updated, please.

[distantearlywarning]

32. Just want to add my voice to the chorus here, having had some personal experience

I read your story in the food poisoning thread. PLEASE go to the doctor and tell them you were bitten by a raccoon. This is actually an extremely critical situation, although it may just seem like to you that you got a little nick or scratch.

People die from rabies every year because they were slightly scratched by an animal, or in some cases, were bitten so lightly by something like a bat while they were sleeping that they didn't even realize they were injured. I have seen recommendations that if one so much as finds a bat in a room they have been sleeping in, even if they have no obvious wounds, that they go get prophylactic rabies shots because of the potential danger.

Raccoons are a MAJOR carrier of rabies in the US, much like bats, and by the time you start to have symptoms it's too late. Rabies is invariably fatal, and the death is prolonged and torturous. It is one of the worst deaths anyone could possibly imagine. It is a strange virus which can hide in your nervous system - incubation times can range from a week and a half to years, so even if you decide to chance it (please don't!!!), you are not out of the woods if you make it through a month or so. I also agree with the others who said that the fact that the raccoon ran up and bit you is an especially bad sign - this is behavior typical of a rabies-infected animal.

A couple of years ago, my husband (the Good Samaritan) tried to rescue a teenage kitten from the side of the highway. The kitten was self-rescuing, however, did not appreciate his efforts, and bit and scratched him slightly. The wounds were nothing special and healed instantly with a little Neosporin. I convinced him to go to the doctor anyway. They immediately started him on the rabies vaccine, and it was reported to our county health department, EVEN THOUGH kittens are rarely found to carry rabies (unlike bats and raccoons). The potential consequences of leaving an animal bite untreated are so serious that they won't take a chance with anyone who's been bitten by an animal they couldn't catch to observe.

I don't think you need to go to the ER tonight, or call an ambulance or anything like that, but if it were me, I would be on the phone with an urgent care or my PCP first thing in the morning. ERs are also expensive - I would try an urgent care with a flat fee or just a basic doctor's office that might take walk-ins. Make sure to tell the receptionist that you were bitten by a wild raccoon so they understand that it's urgent. You have a limited time to safely start the shots, and it is a matter of only a few days. See a doctor first, and they will likely notify County Health for you. AFTER you get your first series of shots, then call Animal Control and let them know that you have a raccoon problem and that one of them bit you. Shots first, then worry about Animal Control.

According to my husband, the shots are no more painful than getting a flu vaccine. The days of the painful rabies shots in the stomach are over. Now they put them in the bite location and I think the later ones go in your arms or butt or something. Yes, it may cost a bit of money if you are uninsured. But if you get rabies and take 10 days to die in the hospital, you will leave your loved ones with hundreds of thousands of dolllars in medical bills after you are gone. It's also possible that your city or county health department will pay for it if you are uninsured, but you won't know until you ask.

I know this all sounds really scary, but none of this is hyperbole, I assure you. Being bitten by a wild raccoon is very serious business. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go see your doctor first thing tomorrow. This is no joke, and washing and disinfecting is not enough. You need rabies shots as soon as possible.

[athena]

38. Great post.

Thank you for bringing some reason to the discussion.

[alcibiades_mystery]

52. Agreed, and the OP wants to make sure people know because rabies vaccine can be in scarcity

and you may have to order it shipped. It's not the case that every medical facility will have some on hand.

[RKP5637]

330. Thank you for this excellent post and especially about the shots no longer being

painful. I often think the shots are what can scare someone from seeking immediate medical attention. I had no idea the shots are no longer painful. Thanks!

[Aerows]

341. I wouldn't go that far

Try having them repeatedly injected into the back of your hand and in an area that is already swollen because it is bitten. But the two I got in the arm weren't bad - I got a tetanus combo and then they broke the needle off in my other arm with the other inoculation I got, but yeah, it's not worth it to wait. I'd like to live, thank you very much.

[RKP5637]

344. Ouch! I'm sorry to hear that happened, Aerows.

[pipoman]

33. ...

[fadedrose]

34. Get off the dam computer and go the emergency room!!!

[Laffy Kat]

37. If Animal Control is able to catch it, maybe you won't need shots?

Can't they tell by necropsy if it is rabid?

[tblue37]

62. They cut off the animal's head and test it--at least that is how they

tested for rabies in the past. Maybe it is different now, but I have not read anything that indicates a different method.

[pnwmom]

379. They won't be able to identify the animal. He needs the shots. Period. n/t

[Logical]

39. You can't get rabies overnight, if you get to doctor quick...

You will be fine. The best place to get bit by Rabid animal is on the foot!
It travels up nerves to the brain! Slowly!

[NutmegYankee]

41. She was bit on the hand earlier today.

This was a second attack.

[Logical]

43. Ok, thanks, still a month from rabies, but glad she is seeing doctor! nt

[NutmegYankee]

44. She Posted on cherokeeprogressive's food poisoning thread.

We were working to convince her to contact a doctor as the bite on the hand drew blood. And then she goes out and get's bit again. Hence my first post about Animal control. This critter needs tested.

[Aerows]

47. I didn't mean to get bitten again

I walked out of the house, and was talking on the phone and it bit me on the foot. I was minding my own business and it went out of the way to bite me!

[IdaBriggs]

51. Barefoot? Sandals? nt

[Aerows]

55. Thick wool socks

That's probably why it didn't break the skin the second time.

[IdaBriggs]

56. Freaking me out - anyone else around to be endangered by

this little bugger?

Yeah for the wool socks!

We had a momma raccoon have a litter in our chimney. The critter control guy used some kind of strong ammonia smelling something and she promptly removed them. Maybe a squirt bottle of ammonia?

[Aerows]

58. I don't know what the hell to do at this point n/t

[IdaBriggs]

59. Well, maybe sprinkle some pine sol or other strong

chemical smell around the door before you go out (wearing shoes) or wait until morning to go out. Not sure it will help, but there are "raccoon repellent" recipes on the web - they seem to involve Tabasco sauce!

I am so sorry you are going through this!

[tblue37]

63. Don't try to drive it away. If they can capture and test it, then you will KNOW

whether it is rabid. Unfortunately the poor creature will be killed for the testing, but as much as I love animals, your life counts for more than that of an aggressive, biting raccoon.

[Vincardog]

309. You don't want to get rid of the critter. You want it captured and tested. You do not want to get

rabies treatments unless you have to.

Good Luck and keep us informed

[NutmegYankee]

65. I understand.

That it went and bit you again is a sign something is wrong with the critter. Animal control needs to trap it.

Sorry if the wording was a little weird.

[Logical]

48. Yes, it sounds rabid. Unusual! Nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

45. But what if you have brains in your ass. like my mother would tell me when I did something stupid?

That being said. I thought I read somewhere that the county health people will often take care of the rabies shots???? At no cost?

[Aerows]

42. Here's a pic of the bite

[Auntie Bush]

114. Looks like you have an infection on the tip of your pinky...probably from a manicurist.

The same thing happened to me. In fact I still have it after four months. Dr. gave me a round of antibiotics but I haven't taken them yet. I keep hoping it will go away on it's own. But I know I should take it...just like you know you should take yourself to the Dr. Good luck!

[Aerows]

46. I can't take a picture to save my soul

It doesn't look nasty in that shot, so I hope it didn't shock anyone.

[rug]

49. Damn, you have long toes!

[Aerows]

53. I do, but those were of the puncture wound in my hand

I'm a horrible photographer.

[IdaBriggs]

54. Hand bite from earlier.

Second bite is on foot. Two separate incidents.

[Barack_America]

50. You got all the advice you needed in the other thread.

Why a dedicated OP?

You obviously know what you need to do.

[Aerows]

57. I didn't realize that freaking out

and posting had a time limit.

[Barack_America]

60. Then call your local ED.

They'll be able to give you information about rabies prophylaxis in your area. There's nothing that anybody on this board is going to tell you that can calm your fears, which is good because this is serious shit. There have been about 4 people in the history of documented rabies infections in this country who have survived the disease.

Your PCP is likely to just refer you to the ED or community health anyway. Rabies prophylaxis is not typically stocked by outpatient physicians.

[longship]

61. For Christ sake, get to a doctor!

If the Racoon was rabid it may be too late.

Once the damned thing gets into your system there's nothing you or anybody can do.

But by all means, roll the dice. Was the coon rabid, or not?

[tblue37]

231. No, it is *not* too late for the shots! nt

[newfie11]

66. You will need rabies shots

Raccoons can carry rabies. My dogs killed 5 over a 4 week period all had rabies.

Raccoons had rabies, dogs were vaccinated and were fine. This was in Virginia 1983.
I took each dead coon to the state vet and they tested positive for rabies.

[Aerows]

67. My doctor ordered me to go to the hospital

So yes, I'm seeing about it. What a disaster.

[madokie]

68. I'd be getting some shots if I was you

Rabies isn't something you want in your life, I can tell you that. You don't even want a chance of that so head on off to the doc and tell them what happened.
IMO

[Aerows]

69. I did, and now I have to go to the damn hospital

Which is about the last place I ever want to go.

[madokie]

71. Rabies is the last thing you want

[Aerows]

72. Went to the hospital

that was loads of fun, got a shot in the behind.

[Logical]

73. Rabies shot? And more coming I assume? nt

[Aerows]

74. Oh, I'm in for all kinds of joy

and they gave me antibiotics, too.

[Logical]

76. Glad you will be ok! nt

[Aerows]

79. Thank you, my friend

It was a crappy experience at the hospital. Thankfully there's an Urgicare center I can go to right around the corner. That was the worst hospital I've ever been in (not that I've been in many of them).

[nenagh]

75. I was worried that the hospital might have had to order the treatment..

Which would have taken time...

Sorry about the sore behind.. but relieved you are OK.

[Aerows]

77. To be completely honest

they were kind of rude to me and didn't seem nearly as concerned about it as I was. I will never go to that hospital again. When I was snottily informed while waiting for my insurance to get processed that "they didn't have time to wait for me" to get a drink of water, I pretty much knew I was in hell.

It's all good, though, I hope. I saw the doctor, got a shot and some antibiotics to take, so we'll see how it goes. My hand is pretty swollen.

[CreekDog]

81. when did you lose your insurance?

[Aerows]

84. I didn't

I just hate the hospital.

[nenagh]

143. Aerows, I'm so glad you were an advocate for your own treatment.

I'd keep a written record of your medication & when you were bitten, & when you received the injection at the hospital.

You never know, but that way you are prepared for any questions the new clinic might reasonably ask for.

(I'd actually write the time when you take the antibiotic.. it's easy to forget when you took your last dose, as the days move forward.. )

You might even call the Center around the corner just to insure that they know to have the correct injections on hand for you.. in case Hospital No 1 is slow in giving the info to your new clinic. (I know that sounds bizarre, but it's risk protection really..for yourself..) or confirm things with your physician..

Whatever you think is right.. I just know from working in a Pharmacy that sometimes there is trouble with faxes etc.. maybe just that the line is busy at the time ..

Here is a hug for being so brave

[Aerows]

146. They didn't even give me a followup care plan

I think now I'm just getting filled full of antibiotics. Rabies is my main concern, considering what bit me.

[nenagh]

150. I'm just reading that now. Take action.

(I'm in Ontario, so where we would call is different from where you are)

You need to talk to an expert and then insure that your treatment is correct.

Let us know how it goes...

[BlueStreak]

171. I suggest a little calm period

I don't know about your area. Animal control in my area says that rabies in raccoons is extremely rare.

But you should follow through with your own doctor, particularly considering you have the swelling.

[LisaL]

210. Extremely rare does not eaual don't happen.

Raccoons normally don't attack people and this one did.
That's what they do when the are rabid.

[BlueStreak]

212. It can happen. I'm just saying at this point, relax

She has been to the hospital and seems to be getting treatment.

If the animal is really hanging around and attacking regularly, then animal control should be called to trap the animal, and then they will know for sure if there are any rabies.

[LisaL]

214. She didn't get rabies shots at the hospital.

It's not a time to relax. Rabies are 100 % fatal once the person has them.

[Jenoch]

216. I hate to out Aerows, but she had been feeding a family of raccoons

and this was one of the juviniles who was habituated to her. This is the reason not to feed raccoons. They are cute, but nasty creatures. We used to find raccoon feces on our 12' deck. They climbed up to eat the suet we had out for the birds. We stopped the suet (and trapped a few raccoons) and they stopped coming around.

[BlueStreak]

218. I had a similar experience

They are wild animals and they are hungry this time of year. The juveniles look like cute little kittens, but they are wild. If they are accustomed to getting fed, they can get aggressive if they are hungry or if they feel other animals are interfering with their food supply. And as the babies grow up, they naturally get more aggressive because that's how you survive as a wild animal.

I think it is extremely unlikely that rabies is involved. You can get that kind of swelling to the hand from a cat scratch.

If she is concerned that the hospital didn't put her on a rabies protocol, then she should talk that over with her PCP.

[countryjake]

223. I agree that it's unlikely that any rabies is involved...

after I read Jenoch's post, I went looking for more on the raccoon saga and found it, making me think that this incident is simply typical of what will happen when someone combines food, sharp teeth, cold weather, and a wild animal's instinctive behavior.

Aerows, when you read this, do not think that I am discounting your worries, but, as I asked you in that other thread, if there were any food stuffs or even previous feeding involved, that would explain WHY this little coon bit you. It's freezing cold outside this week, he is freaked by that, and he remembers that you were once his source of supper.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=523820

[Mojorabbit]

261. I thought there might be a backstory

They normally avoid people unless very very young. I hope rabies shots are given. Not worth the risk to not have them.

[Jenoch]

267. If you read to the bottom if the thread,

you will read that Aerows is going to be ok. I think a lot of people reading this thread will learn a lot about situations such as this one. What I learned was don't just let the ER staff blow you off. You have to follow up and that's what happened. MineralMan was a great help as was the County Public Health staff. I hope I never have to go throigh something like this. I was once bitten by a stray dog (we thought it was a stray) when I was a kid. It turned out to be owned by some new people to the neighborhood. It was up-to-date with its shots, but the new neighbors were not too cooperative. My dad ended up telling them if they did not keep it tied up and if it showed up in our yard again he was going to shoot it. I think they ended up getting rid of the dog because I was not tbe first to be bitten.

[countryjake]

271. Yup, she still needs to take every precaution necessary...

just in case the raccoon is actually sick, tho I doubt that it is. Aerows should also make sure that no food is left outside anymore, close to her house, by her porch door, or anywhere that her kitty might run into that coon. Years ago, my cat was practically torn to shreds by a wild animal and it cost me a fortune in vet bills to save his life.

[Hekate]

323. Raccoon feces also harbor some sort of parasite that can get into human brains...

I know -- a subject line is too short to make a complete thought sometimes.

But what we found out locally is that a child was infected from doing what toddlers do: playing in the dirt, then hands to mouth. Sadly, he has permanent brain damage.

Raccoons are cute and clever little bandits, but I prefer them at a distance. I stopped feeding our cat out of doors when I found an adolescent 'coon trying to get to his dish. I generally dump our chickens' water dish when they go in their coop for the night. Our SoCal area has fruit trees in every yard, so possums and raccoons will forage, but at least I can do that much.

[840high]

228. Might have been protecting babies

near by.

[Jenoch]

239. It was a juvenile raccoon.

[tblue37]

232. Call animal control. They need to capture the raccoon and kill it, and then test it for

Last edited Wed Jan 8, 2014, 12:56 PM - Edit history (1)

rabies. Antibiotics will not protect you from rabies, so unless the raccoon has been tested and proven NOT rabid, you will need to start a series of rabies shots within a few days of the bite.

[Jenoch]

249. Even if they catch a raccoon.

she will still need the shots because they cannot be sure they would trap the same raccoon.

[tblue37]

281. That is true. Besides, she has lost some time, and the window for starting the shots after

a bite is fairly narrow. She has contacted the right people, though, so she should be starting her shots tomorrow--I hope.

[Jenoch]

288. Re-read the entire thread.

She started the shots within about 18 hours. The shots can actually be done anytime before symptoms start, although they will be most effective if started within 72 hours.

This is one of those threads where it should be read entirely before making a reply. I gotta go back to sleep.

[tblue37]

289. She got an antibiotic shot at the ER, not a rabies shot.

MineralMan gave her numbers to call so she could get competent treatment from people who understand about the danger of rabies even when a bite wound is tiny.

She then contacted them, and they told her to go to a hospital in another county, which she was going to do the next day. If this thread started today, that would be tomorrow. If it started last night, then it would be today.

I have read the entire thread, at least as far as it went up to an hour or so ago. In fact, I have posted a number of times on it over the course of this afternoon and evening.

[tblue37]

290. I see she began her shot series and updated about an hour after I finished reading the thread,

so thank goodness she has begun the series!

[Aerows]

336. No, I went last night

It was not fun, but I was scared about the entire situation. I can't believe what I had to go through to get this treated. If an ER blows you off after you get bitten by a wild animal, you are in the wrong damn hospital. That's what I learned. I have no idea why that hospital is still in business.

[tblue37]

360. Aerows, I am so glad you are going to be OK. I also hope you will complain to

the hospital itself and also to your county and state health departments. If that raccoon happened to be rabid, what they did in that ER could have led you to an agonizing death.

Frankly, I doubt that it was rabid, but since raccoons are a well-known rabies vector—and even many laypersons are well aware of that fact, as the posts on this thread show, so medical professionals certainly should be!—the doctor should always assume that the animal was rabid, especially since mere contact with saliva can spread the disease if you have even a tiny wound on your hand, like winter-chapped skin, for example.

If the raccoon was rabid, and especially since its bite broke skin, that would mean that you had only a limited time frame to begin the shot series, without which you would certainly die. But since they not only failed to begin rabies treatment, but actually acted as though your concerns were foolish, their snottiness would have prevented you from following through and getting the rabies shots if you had not reported the situation on DU and gotten the advice of so many DUers (and the invaluable help of MineralMan).

Just imagine what would have happened if you had not had the input of the DUers who warned you to get the shots and who also made it clear that the butt shot they gave you was certainly not a rabies shot, but merely an antibiotic.

Your expereince really upsets me because of something that happened here in our town over the Labor Day weekend. A 19-year-old boy committed suicide that Sunday morning. His therapist wouldn’t take phone calls over the holiday weekend, so the mother’s frantic calls just went to a voicemail that said the therapist would call back on Tuesday morning. Then the mother took her son to the ER, but the medical professionals at the ER also failed to follow standard protocol—and again, that protocol is so well-known that even most laypersons are well aware of it!

Instead of having a mental health professional there or at least on call for crisis situations like that, which is what most hospitals in a city this size would do, the stupid ER doctor called the cops on the kid!

Well, we know that is the worst possible thing to do, because of all the horror stories we’ve seen about how cops are likely to kill suicidal people when their families make the mistake of calling for help to prevent the suicide.

Those cops treated the boy as though he were a criminal, aggressively interrogating him for two hours! He was made to feel ashamed and embarrassed, so finally he just begged his mother to take him home. As they left, the desperate mother asked the doctor what she was supposed to do. He responded with a stupid cliché, “Just be there for him.”

When an adolescent who is already under care for depression presents in an ER with open suicidal ideation, he doesn’t need to be bullied by cops. He needs a competent therapist, and probably also to be temporarily admitted as a potential danger to himself.

The mother did everything she could, but the boy’s therapist failed to follow standard procedure when she went incommunicado over the long holiday weekend without providing her patients with a lifeline number or a way to reach a cooperating colleague in case of crisis. Holidays, weekends, and late nights are especially dangerous to people who suffer from suicidal depression, and this ER visit hit the trifecta: it occurred near midnight on a holiday weekend.

The hospital was equally at fault, of course. How on earth could the ER in a city this size not have a mental health professional at least on call just because it was late at night on a holiday weekend?

The most bizarre part of the doctor’s calling in the cops is that it was in our city that the cops killed Greg Sevier, a young Native American man whose parents had called them to help their son, because they feared he would kill himself.

Greg, a severe depressive, had locked himself in the bedroom with a knife. When the cops came, they didn’t talk or anything. They went right to kicking down the door. When Greg startled and stood up from where he was sitting on the bed with the knife in his hand (he did not move toward them—he just stood up as a result of being startled), one of the cops immediately drew his gun and killed him. (This case was actually rather famous when it occurred.)

I think you should complain to the county and state health departments, as well as to the hospital itself. Those ER idiots need to learn how to handle a case of possible rabies before their ignorance kills someone!

[TDale313]

78. So glad you went and are ok.

What a scary situation. Take care.

[Aerows]

80. I appreciate the concern

It will be okay, I'm sure. The hospital sucked but they did the right things so I can ignore the attitude I got served there LOL.

[Mojorabbit]

264. I also am so glad you went and I hope you begin the shots

I want only that you be healthy and happy and posting away here for a long time to come.

[Aerows]

266. The layers of idiocy I've had to go through today

is unreal. Go to the hospital in my county. Got sent home with a shot of antibiotics. Call the Department of Health in my county to find out no one in my county actually has the vaccine, get referred to a county over. Go there. They were actually helpful, and I've been stuck with more needles than a pine forest.

[malaise]

86. Glad to hear

[madokie]

89. Thank you

I feel much better now.
Just goes to show that ol fatty ass is good for sumtin.
Just kidding, actually just poking some fun your way.

[Aerows]

92. I wish

I had more butt. When God was handing them out, obviously I wasn't in the right line LOL

[madokie]

95. I hear ya!

Now that I'm too old for it to matter (65) I'm starting to put on some weight. Couldn't have happened about 40 years ago, nope no way.

Now I'm pooching out here and poking out there, LOL And all the while loosing my damned hair

[idwiyo]

105. Hugs. Shots are not fun but at least now you are safe. :)

[malaise]

82. Go and get your shots immediately

Please

[Aerows]

83. I went the the ER this morning

I have a prescription for antibiotics and they gave me a shot in the behind.

[Blue Diadem]

85. When is your next shot?

Have you called your local PD or Sheriff's dept about the raccoon?

[Aerows]

90. The hospital told me to call animal control.

I originally thought they would take a police report, but they didn't. They kind of acted like I was stupid for going there. It's not like my hand is mauled or anything, but it's obviously swollen and bitten.

[Blue Diadem]

98. Doesn't have to be mauled to get rabies. It is transmitted via saliva

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/index.html

[Aerows]

100. I know, but I went to the ER

and they acted like I was completely stupid for even being there.

[Blue Diadem]

106. Speak to your Dr. If they gave you

the first rabies shot, you need the rest of the series, 2nd shot should take place on day 3. IIRC, there are 4 in the series. Did they give you any info at all for followup?

[Aerows]

107. No

They acted like it was ridiculous for me to even be there. I told them up front I was bitten by a wild raccoon, too.

[LisaL]

204. Did you tell them you are concerned about rabies?

Like everybody esle said, racoons can cary rabies.

[Retrograde]

147. Where do you live?

When I got bitten, the hospital had forms to fill out that they sent to the local sheriff, presumably for follow-up. And prior to that, when I called the medical advice line their instructions were to report to the ER immediately if not sooner. This was in California.

[CreekDog]

108. they don't seem to be answering your question about the "next shot" and rabies is a series of shots

and they ignored my question about why their shot was given in the behind when these shots aren't given there.


this story's getting cooler bro.

[Aerows]

109. Look, CreekDog

I get that you think I'm trolling. Would you like me to take a picture of my hand this morning with the bracelet from the hospital still on it? Or should I just scan the discharge papers?

I mean WTF. Why would I make up something like that?

[CreekDog]

110. i think mine and the other poster's questions are reasonable

about when your next shots are and why it was given in your behind instead of the recommended place.

it's not an accusation of trolling to ask such questions.

[Aerows]

117. Okay

[Aerows]

118. And if that doesn't suit you,

then too bad.

[countryjake]

119. Creek, you know that's not a very nice thing to say...

I'm normally a skeptic, too, but I think that this is a case of "you had to be there" to understand, meaning that Aerows casually mentioned her bite in another thread yesterday, and everyone immediately began urging her to do something, immediately.

Go read cherokeeprogressive's food poisoning thread and see how this has all progressed. Aerows was getting responses rapid-fire in there, many were dire enough to scare the living shit right out of a person, but then things became even more serious after Aerows tried to go back outside and was bitten again.

Believe it or not, but nature sometimes does go completely berserk, be it horrible disease, odd weather patterns due to climate-change, or simply self-preservation.

Maybe the care facility isn't that experienced at dealing with scares such as rabies or maybe they just have an incompetent staff. Why blame Aerows, when she actually tried to get proper treatment without panicking and ended up having a less-than-satisfactory experience?

[CreekDog]

121. well, first she said it was a hospital

second, i'm not saying i don't believe her.

but to get bitten twice by a raccoon during somebody's food poisoning thread is remarkable timing.

[Aerows]

123. I went to the damn hospital ER

I don't know what your deal is, but if you think I wanted to be bitten by a raccoon for sympathy, I don't know what to tell you. It freaked me out. So no, I probably wasn't acting normal.

[Aerows]

125. I don't even know what to say

I went to the ER, hell I still have the bracelet. I don't think if I gave CreekDog the hospital phone line and the DR's name it would be suitable. But I did give both of them.

[tblue37]

233. I am sure that shot was an antibiotic, not the first rabies shot. nt

[Puglover]

347. Yes it is given there.

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/medical_care/hrig.html

Rabies Immunoglobulin provides instant antibodies where as the shots after wards take awhile.

I had 6 at once back in April. Three in each cheek and I'm not talking about the cheeks on my face.

Your post is dead wrong.

[CreekDog]

87. I thought they don't give that shot in the behind

I hope they did it correctly.

[Aerows]

91. The hospital

kind of acted like I was an idiot for being there, to be honest. I clearly have a bite on my hand, but they sort of acted like I was a hypochondriac or something. It's not like I was interested in pain medication - I just don't want rabies.

[CreekDog]

94. i had just a small cat bite once and the doctor was very concerned

i don't know any medical professional that would scoff at a raccoon bite.

[Aerows]

97. Tell Hancock Medical Center

The doctor was Dr. Seglio. My own doctor was concerned, too.

[get the red out]

102. That's strange!

A friend's Labrador Retriever was bitten by a skunk that turned out to be rabid one time and there were even announcements in the paper and on local TV for people to be cautious with wild animals because of it. The dog had had his shots and was fine. It was certainly taken seriously though, and seen as a public health issue.

[malaise]

88. Very good

Have they come for the raccoon yet?

[Aerows]

93. It's kind of strange

I went to the hospital, and I thought they would file a police report or something. My hand has an obvious bite on it and it is swollen, but they just said call animal control. I've called animal control before and the police showed up, but they pretty much told me that unless there is a mauling in progress, they can't do anything. i.e. if we can't use a gun you are SOL.

I'm kind of dumbfounded by the whole experience. Yes I got a shot and some antibiotics, but it was kind of like "oh well". My doctor was the one who told me to go to the ER, but I didn't see him today. I'm following up with him later in the week.

This has been a mess.

[malaise]

99. I've never ever seen a raccoon in real life

That would freak me out.

[MineralMan]

116. Call animal control or your doctor now, not later.

The shot you got in the butt was probably an antibiotic. Unless they told you about the series of shots you need for protection against rabies, I'd be pretty certain you did not get a start on that series.

You need to be proactive on this. Seriously. Rabies is deadly, and you should assume that the raccoon that bit you is rabid. You need the entire series of shots. So, call your doctor or call animal control and tell your story again. You need to be seen now, not later.

You can dismiss what I'm saying, but I suggest you do not in the most serious possible way.

Just do it.

[Aerows]

127. I'm kind of out in the sticks

You'd think being out in the sticks, people would take this kind of thing seriously. Basically, the doctor scoffed at it, and said that it was too superficial to worry about.

That seemed like pretty f'ed up advice to me.

[MineralMan]

129. Yah, well, the ball is in your court, it seems.

I'd take it seriously if I were you. We don't want to be reading about a rabies death. That's national news, you know.

If the raccoon bit you, you need the series of shots. Period. But, hey, it's your life, not mine. If it happened, you need to act soon. If it didn't, well, never mind.

[Aerows]

130. Oh for heaven's sake

It happened. Who makes up a story like that?

[Jenoch]

140. Mineral Man is correct, you need to follow up with your own doctor.

The post exposure to rabies shots are not usually in the gluteous but in the quad with specific locations for the four shots. I don't know why the ER staff were not more concerned. You did tell them that the bite was bleeding?

Good luck to you...and please do not feed anymore raccoons.

[Aerows]

144. They knew it was bleeding because I have a puncture wound

I assume they knew that. My hand was swollen and there is a defined puncture wound, and they asked when my last Tetanus shot was. Well, it was right after Katrina.

[CreekDog]

224. why are you asking for advice then ignoring it?

you keep posting why you won't bother to do anything further.

you're obviously willing to post on DU all day about it.

do you truly not want to follow standard medical advice on it and if so, then why post here about it?

attention, sympathy? i ask honestly because you keep dismissing the advice you get, despite folks saying that your life could be in danger.

yet you don't seem to be busy, you've had time to post day and night about this topic since it came up.

what gives?

[El_Johns]

274. +1. It's weird. A racoon bites me -- twice -- for no reason, I wouldn't be posting on the internet.

Not only bites, but is apparently laying in wait, ready to attack whenever the poster steps outside.

But the poster wants to wait to see if there are any symptoms?

Uh-huh.

[countryjake]

277. Aerows spent half of today, trying to get treatment at two different...

hospitals!

What difference should it make to you if she wishes to update those of us who have been worried about her since she was first bitten? I'm glad that she's taken the time to keep us posted on her dilemma.

Jeeze.

[El_Johns]

278. I don't care if she updates you; I just think it's weird she posted about it for hours on Sunday,

when it happened.

[countryjake]

282. Give me a friggin' break...she'd already done all she thought was necessary...

cleaned her wound very well, put anti-bacterial ointment on it, and popped in here to find that uh-oh, maybe the bite is a bit more serious than it appears. Do you run to the hospital for every single injury you get? On top of that, Aerows was car-less at the time she was on here discovering that she might be at risk for rabies.

And, it was not "hours" of posting on Sunday...most of the many posts in that older thread were thrown at her within minutes of her first revelation about being bitten. At least she wasn't running around with her hair on fire, like several posters thought she should be!

Again, why should it matter to you in the first place? Maybe she's just an eccentric person normally; I know that I am, and I usually will do every other thing humanly possible before I would actually voluntarily submit myself to being treated by any medical professional.

[El_Johns]

283. I posted my opinion. That one should immediately get a rabies shot after being bit by a wild

animal (or even a domesticated animal) acting oddly isn't some esoteric knowledge. An animal that bites for no reason, not once, but twice, & according to the victim, was laying in wait trying to attack her whenever she stepped outside is a wild animal acting very oddly indeed.

Anyway, no point in arguing about it. That's my opinion; you berating me doesn't change it.

[countryjake]

284. Well, I'm sorry that I've jumped on you, but others implying...

that her story wasn't adding up, to the point that she even had to post pics of her wounds to prove that she'd been bitten at all, were pretty obnoxious, and did not help matters in the least.

Actually, there is a possible reasonable explanation for why that young coon might have decided to become aggressive with Aerows and it has nothing whatsoever to do with any sickness or fatal disease.

Have a good night.

[El_Johns]

287. Doubtful.

Raccoons mate in January through March, and litters of 3 to 6 are born between April and May after a gestation period of about 63 days.

http://www.terrierman.com/lifehabitatraccoon.htm

[CreekDog]

285. she knew a raccoon bite risked rabies she posted such fears for months here

oh you didn't know that one did you?

she's been posting about raccoons, with occasional references to fear of rabies for months too.

then she gets bitten and is like "oh well".

pardon us for asking some questions.

[countryjake]

291. Well, I didn't at first, but I learned of it this afternoon.

See post #223.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4290524

There are tons of folk who cannot get over the cuteness factor of a baby animal or the thrill of being "close" to wild ones. Incidents such as what has finally happened to Aerows are not that unusual. Especially if food (or previous feeding) is involved during an Arctic blast (that critter probably was freezing his little ass off and was telling her, in his own way, to give up the goods, now).

So, I am sorry that I jumped on you, too, but that still doesn't excuse the "doubting thomas" attitude that you presented earlier. If you were already aware that she'd been dealing with coons for months, you could have included that in your queries, instead of being so rudely skeptical.

You have a good night, too.

[Aerows]

317. Next time you troll a thread

accusing the person of trolling the thread after they went through hours of bullshit trying to get a wild animal bite taken care of, I hope you enjoy the heck out of it. And no, I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

What is your obsession with people "potentially trolling" anyway? Is there projection going on there, or do you just like harassing people? What part of "this is completely unbelievable" did you take issue with in the first place? I live in the damn sticks. I've discussed the raccoons before. It's not like this came out of the damn blue, and I also pointed out that some of them got frightening as hell about a month and a half ago.

But hey, have a great time bashing people, accusing them of trolling and looking for flaws that you can accuse someone of. If it makes you feel better to do it to me, at least you are giving somebody else a rest.

[CreekDog]

324. you doth protest too much

and even though I didn't accuse you of trolling, you accused me.

[Aerows]

326. Like I said, at least you are giving somebody else a rest.

I'm thrilled you think I'm protesting too much. Maybe looking in the mirror would be an interesting exercise for you.

[MineralMan]

141. The thing is that you don't seem concerned enough to me.

This is something you need to deal with right away. I don't think you got any rabies shot at the hospital, based on what you've said here. And you will need a series of shots. They must be started soon after the bite. Call your animal control department and tell them that you've been bitten by a raccoon. Call your doctor. Call someone. You need to get this underway.

My frustration is that you seem to be about to ignore this, and that could be a fatal mistake. I don't doubt your story, but if I were in your shoes, I'd be making absolutely certain I was getting the rabies shots, and I wouldn't waste any time about it, either.

You say you live in a rural area. Call your state department of environmental health if you don't get taken seriously locally. Escalate this now.

That is my advice to you, and I do know what I'm talking about, too.

[wercal]

272. Aerows should have time

I was in the chorus telling Aerows to go to the doctor yesterday...and she apparently has an appointment later this week with her regular doctor. That should be fine.

There is a window of time before permanent damage is done. I got bit by an opposum once, and I was able to wait several days until the local university tested the brain.....and I did not need shots.

Aerows' doctor will probably start the shots, and it will be in plenty of time.

[Are_grits_groceries]

120. I had a bat in my apartment in Virginia.

I was on the computer and something flew by and I thought "Damn! That's a big moth."
Then I noticed my cats huddled up staring at something. That's their code for 'Something's here.' They don't swat or whatever. They just stare.

I went over and saw that it was a bat. It was a small brown bat all tight in a ball. I said quite a few swear words. I put the cats in a bathroom, but they had more protection from rabies than I did.

I was in no mood to chase a bat around my apartment. I had done that at my Grandmama's house with whatever was at hand. I had a tennis racquet handy in case it took off.

I had gloves. I used a pair of padded gloves that still were very flexible. I grabbed the bat and took it outside and threw it into the night. When I told people at work, they wanted to know what kind and if it was ok. I didn't know nor did I care.

I had to see my doctor the next day because of an unrelated problem. I mentioned the bat and he freaked out. I thought he was going to call the cops right then to take me to get shots. I assured him I would go. It didn't bite me, but that was moot.

So I got the shots. They weren't that bad. When I was growing up, I always heard you had to get 24 (or 12) shots in the stomach. That was not a pleasant thought.

[Jenoch]

158. Did you have any open wounds on your hands?

I know you said you were wearing gloves, but it's the saliva tgat transmits the rabies. About ten years ago we had one in our cabin, but it was not flying around. It was hibernating up in the rafters. It was deer season and we were going to light a fire. I did not want the bat to wake up and start flying around so I grabbed it while wearing leather gloves, put it in a bucket with a lid and let it go about a half mile away. I hope it revived and found someplace else to spend the winter.

[Are_grits_groceries]

178. No

My skin never got near him. The doctor was worried about where he had been in my apartment and how long he had been there. I couldn't tell you if I came into any contact with his saliva somewhere. That's why my doctor was so insistent.

[Jenoch]

199. You have a good doctor.

Apparently everyone who has bats inside their house should have the rabies shots. You don't know if you have been bitten while sleeping.

This lady was not so fortunate:



http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3763283/

[LisaL]

207. Recently I read about the woman that found a bat in her apartment.

She wasn't adviced that bat could have been rabid. She also didn't know she was bitten. She then got rabies and died.

[Aerows]

321. The first hospital I went to

was so flip about it, even though they saw the puncture wound, they acted like I was crazy to be concerned. MineralMan posted some numbers for me to call and I had to call the Department of Health only to find out the hospital in my county is in transition (whatever that means) and had no vaccine. Apparently, this isn't readily available. I had to go to the next county over.

The moral of the story is don't let a hospital blow you off when you have a situation like this, because if they don't have the vaccine, they may well do to you what they did to me - send me home with an antibiotics shot and platitudes. The Health Department, the pharmacy where I picked up my medication this morning, and my doctor told me this was a serious issue. Hancock Medical Center obviously thought that they couldn't make any money off of this since they didn't have the vaccine and blew me off.

Which if they think I'm filing to pay for that bill, they are out of their ever-loving minds.

[KittyWampus]

115. wtf? this is a second bite. In all these years Aerows has never been a "cool story bro" type.

So your obnoxious post is uncalled for.

[IdaBriggs]

124. Reading comprehension problem --

There were two separate incidents. The first involved a bite on the hand, as described and shown in a picture up thread. The second involved the raccoon charging and biting on the foot but not breaking skin due to heavy wool socks. This means the same raccoon (a young one) has attacked twice and there is obviously something "wrong" because they don't usually attack humans.

The poster was urged to seek appropriate medical attention due to understandable concerns about rabies. Discussion has continued about the course of treatment and "attitude" from the hospital staff who are undoubtedly used to more "severe trauma"; unfortunately rabies is transmitted via saliva and "bite from wild animal" is the primary way humans get it.

I am not sure if you intended to take a rude/dismissive tone, with the implication being the poster is not truthful, but that is how I read your response. Hopefully now that the situation has been clarified you will either delete or edit appropriately.

I also think the poster may have had their life saved by getting reasonably good advice from DUers; it would have been very easy to dismiss the initial injury as "a scratch" without considering the risk for rabies transmission if the discussion had not occurred.

Yeah, for DU!

[KittyWampus]

113. Dear Aerows, I am profoundly relieved you are getting the shots AND antibiotics>

despite the idiots at the hospital's lack of concern, animal bites can be quite serious should they get infected. Even when from a household pet.

Now as for your animal control/police situation… it sounds almost certain there is a rabid raccoon in your vicinity.

If animal control/police do not make any attempt at capturing and killing this animal they are endangering the public. I would probably be calling the local newspaper about this.

Other people's health and lives are at risk.

Maybe there needs to be public service ads on tv about rabies.

[Sissyk]

122. Here's the problem.

If she was bit by a raccoon (twice) and the hospital staff are SO INCOMPETENT that they gave her a rabies shot in the butt, didn't schedule the next treatment, and didn't call Animal Control; they ALL (each and every one) need to be fired. At least investigated.

Other people's health is at risk.

I think that is what people are having such a hard time with, not Aerows.

[Aerows]

126. I'm trying to do the right thing here

What in the hell else am I supposed to do? I went to the hospital.

[Sissyk]

128. Well, if it was me and I saw all these people telling

me differently, I would be on the phone with my GP telling him exactly (step by step) what had occurred at the hospital because I would want to know if I was in a serious health crisis. Like, losing my life serious.

What you are not getting (unless things have changed in the past six months) is rabies shots are either injected in the upper arm, or powder. That's it. And, they would schedule a next treatment for you.

That's on the hospital if they gave you a shot in the butt but could greatly affect your life.

With that, I am getting out of this thread. I like you. There is no hard feelings from me to you.

[Aerows]

131. This is freaking ridiculous

that people think I'm making this shit up. Hell, I wish I was. The hospital's attitude was bad enough.

[Sissyk]

134. Can you tell me please, where in that

post you replied to that I thought you were making shit up????

Both of my post were about the Hospital Staff. And, the fact that I was be on the phone finding out why they didn't give me rabies treatment.

That's all, Aerows!

[Aerows]

135. I'm sorry

I'm just frustrated and a little scared. Several people in this thread have indicated that I'm trolling the forum for some unknown reason. Why in the hell would I make something like that up?

I went to the hospital and they blew me off. I know EXACTLY what bit me. It wasn't a cat, it wasn't a dog, it was a wild raccoon.

[Sissyk]

137. Don't pay attention to them!!!

Pay attention to those trying to help you. Maybe to live. It's that serious.

Raccoons are one of the top animals for having rabies.

Take care of yourself!

[PearliePoo2]

132. What you do is consult your private doctor right away.

Tell him/her that you only got one shot at the ER and when should you schedule the rest!
Also, verify what KIND of shot/shots they gave you.
My sister and her husband went through this with a bat in their house. It did NOT matter that they did not recall getting bit. Bats teeth are so small and so very sharp you may not ever feel it. They had to have the series of shots. And yes, our County health board was VERY concerned and were all over it instantly!!
Now...call your doctor..now.
good luck and best wishes.

[840high]

229. Yes. What kind of shot

in the butt? It might have been anti-biotic. Call them back and find out. Check your paper work. It might say on it.

[countryjake]

136. Aerows, get in touch with your local Health Department...

and, most likely, prepare yourself for more incompetency. I'm out in boonie-land, too, and that's just the breaks we get for living in a low-population area. Hell, our county coroner isn't even a trained medical professional, ha!

Anyway, try calling Fish and Wildlife also, to alert the whole damn county that there may be a sick animal prowling your area.

[Aerows]

138. Incompetency is a given around here

I could have stayed home and put antibacterial ointment on it and ended up with the same result. My fear is damn rabies. I don't care about infection - I care about rabies and dying.

[MineralMan]

145. See my post with phone numbers below.

Please!

[PearliePoo2]

139. Also, regarding raccoons...they may look cute and all but...

they can be vicious, mean little fuckers. I know from years of experience.
I too, live in the woods and raccoons are everywhere. A pack of them cornered my Border Collie under the house and attacked her. She was screaming and crying in fright but managed to escape.
My neighbor's dog, a full grown collie like Lassie, was also attacked and it took hundreds of dollars at the vet to sew her up with stitches. Another neighbor was losing barn cats and could not figure out why until he put a night motion camera in the barn. It was raccoons and they were ghastly brutal on the cats.
Now, I trap them and the ones in my trap never attack anything or anyone again.
But...there's always more that eventually show up. I can't stand them.

[Retrograde]

152. I live in the heart of Silicon Valley and raccoons are everywhere!

I've seen them on my street at night, and sometimes find their footprints on the back steps. It doesn't help that some people feed them: they leave out food for the cats or dogs but those masked urban scavengers eat it instead.

[MineralMan]

148. See my list of phone numbers in the post downthread.

Call them!

We're trying to help, here.

[tblue37]

235. That butt shot was just an antibiotic, NOT the first rabies shot! nt

[Warpy]

251. Animal control might do the right thing

if they're not swamped with calls about raisin hearted assholes who are leaving their dogs and cats outdoors.

Yes, they'll anesthetize it and probably put it down. Death from rabies is agonizing, so it will be doing the poor thing a favor.

[Aerows]

253. They referred me to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

because it's a wild animal, and apparently they don't handle that. You would not believe the run around I have gotten today.

[MineralMan]

142. OK, here are some phone numbers. Start at the top and work down:

Don't stop until someone takes this seriously. Please.

Hancock County Animal Control
Animal Control Officer Dorty Necaise

[phone]
In the event of an emergency

Dial 911
Non-Emergencies after 5:00 p.m. & weekends

[phone]


Hancock County Health Department

3856 Highway 90
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520-8602

Phone: [phone]
Open: Monday - Friday

Mississippi State Health Department - Public Health District 9
District Office: 1141 Bayview Ave., Suite 102, Biloxi 39530
228-436-6770

Mississippi State Department of Health

Central Office Phone
601-576-7400 (8am-5pm)
Agency personnel are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in public health emergencies.

Get more information at this website link:
http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/2748.pdf

[Aerows]

149. I got referred to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Animal Control can't do anything because it's a wild animal, they said.

EDIT: They agreed though that I need a rabies vaccination battery.

Calling the next on the list.

[MineralMan]

151. Thank you for calling.

You'll find someone who takes it seriously at one of those numbers.

[Aerows]

154. The Hancock county health department number

was a GODSEND. I have to call another hospital in Harrison, but they can do it, and everyone at the health department wondered why in the hell they didn't give me a tetanus shot, either.

[MineralMan]

160. Yay! Now you're on your way to safeguarding yourself.

Please follow up on this right away.

Incidentally, the Hancock Medical Center is currently under new ownership, for 90 days. Apparently there have been some problems there. I think you'll do better at the other hospital. It sounds like the doctor at the one you went to did not give this the attention he should have. Maybe the county health department will look into that, I hope.

Sorry you have to go through this, but it sounds like you found someone to take this seriously. It's important that you take care of this as soon as possible.

[Aerows]

161. The lady at the health department said I had 72 hours

and that I need to go as soon as possible. She also mentioned that the hospital was having trouble. They were so rude, it was kind of unbelievable.

[MineralMan]

165. Good. I hope you make it your top priority.

As an aside, I looked up the doctor you mentioned. He's not an MD. He's a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy). That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn't sound like he showed much competency.

I'm glad you'll get the treatment.

[Aerows]

174. Wait a minute

I went to the hospital and the person I saw wasn't even an MD!!??

[MineralMan]

221. D.O.s get similar training as MDs.

They just have a different emphasis. You'd have to look at the school he went to. As far as I know, all states licence them the same as MDs. That wasn't always the case, though. My family doctor was an osteopath, and he was an excellent doctor. But not an MD.

[nenagh]

163. Thank you Mineral Man...

for the phone numbers and your expertise.

[nenagh]

162. Thank you Aerows and thank you Mineral Man for the phone #'s..

Sometimes when your somewhat panicked it's hard to think..

[dgibby]

333. You'd be doing yourself

and everyone else in you area a favor by reporting the hospital that blew you off to the state medical board. That's the kind of thing that gets people dead fast. I'm a retired RN and I'd report them in a skinny minute.

[Aerows]

345. I'll be honest

I always thought from living in Florida that if you report a wild animal bite at the hospital they had to take a police report. They didn't even care. It was like I was being a nuisance for taking time out of their busy day. When I went to get water while they were processing my insurance, one of the women loftily told me, "I don't have time for you to do that."

[Blue Diadem]

155. Thank you for helping her out with the numbers.

and glad to see she is taking your advice!

[MineralMan]

156. Well, as soon as she named the hospital,

I could look the numbers up. There's only one with that name.

[Jenoch]

166. You're a good man, Mineral Man.

[MineralMan]

167. I'm a serious man, anyhow.

And I know how to use Google to best advantage. I'm glad I could help.

I sometimes get flack for being serious most of the time. It's in my genes, I guess. My father is a serious man, too, and I guess I take after him.

[Aerows]

183. Thanks MM

I have to go a county over, but at least they realize this could be a bad freaking situation. Of all the things that could possibly kill me, rabies wasn't first on the list.

[MineralMan]

187. I'm glad I could help.

You'll be fine now.

[uppityperson]

193. and it is very freaky, having a raccoon bite you twice. Eve of the Attacking Raccoons

makes one kind of skittish I expect.

[Aerows]

349. I had two that were 35 lbs. + rush the sliding glass door last month

I dropped my laptop, tried to close it and one stuck it's snout in the house. I knew already by then that it was a dangerous situation. Can you imagine if those suckers as big as they were got in the house?

[Jenoch]

195. Did you ever see the film A Serious Man?

It was shot by the Coen brothers in St. Louis Park and Edina.

[MineralMan]

220. I did. I don't really identify with that

character, though.

[Jenoch]

222. Oh, that was not my intent.

That was one of thkse movies that is so involved with a specific culture that I spent the entire time watching it feeling as if there were a lot of inside jokes going on of which I was unaware.

[840high]

230. You are a sweetheart.

[Gothmog]

170. It appears that she is on the wrong side of the Mississippi

The virus that affects raccoons has not yet made it across the Mississippi river. In Texas, there has been no reports of raccoons with the virus but the skunk variation is very common and bats are a problem.

[eShirl]

180. you frikkin' RULE

[Ian David]

157. If you can't fight it off with a broom or a snow shovel to get to the car and drive to the doctor...

... then call Animal Control first, let them remove the animal, and THEN drive to the doctor.

With things like rabies, hours count. Don't just wait until tomorrow morning and hope it goes away.

By tomorrow, there could be a whole army of raccoons waiting for you.

Seriously, do it NOW.

[Aerows]

159. The Health department told me I have 72 hours

and it happened last night, so hopefully I'm good. I have to call another hospital that has the rabies vaccine. It's not fun, but I'm terrified as can be.

[Ian David]

164. You have 72 hours. But the sooner you get it, the more effective it is. Like the Morning After Pill.

I don't blame you for being scared. I would be, too.

You're probably fine, and if you're not, the vaccine will almost certainly save your life.

But putting it off for later just makes it less effective, and gives you more time to be worrying.

Put that worry to use, and take care of it now.

I hope you feel better soon!

[nenagh]

194. Aerows, I've worked in Pharmacy for a long time...

The hospital the Public Health Dept recommended you to keeps the post rabies exposure injections in their stock.. or they are supposed to keep it in stock..

But the call for the emergency rabies treatment may be infrequent.

Can you get the Public Health Dept you called to actually confirm that the Hospital Pharmacy has the injections that you will need for tomorrow's emergency treatment?

Sorry for being so difficult.. you must be exhausted by now.

Best of luck..

[Aerows]

343. As you probably know, I already got it

I'm sorry for being such a drama queen about this, but the fact that the hospital in my county was dismissive about it kind of scares the crap out of me. Is this what passes for health care here in Hancock County, MS?

[Gothmog]

168. Where are you located?

The rabies strain carried by raccoons tend to be limited to the east coast. In Texas, this strain of the rabbi virus has not yet been identified according to a friend who works in disease control. According to her, the virus strain that affects raccoons was limited to the Florida everglades until some nuts took some Florida raccoons up north for hunting and now the virus if common on the east coast.

In Texas, skunks and bats are the primary vectors for the rabbi virus. We have some aggressive raccoons at one of the parks where I used to camp and it took a padlock to keep the raccoons out of grub boxes. Bats are a very common vector for the virus and you should never pick up with your hands a dead bat.

If the animal control office is telling you to get the vaccine, then do so. If you live on the East Coast.

Good luck. The treatments are far less painful than in the old days.

[Aerows]

172. I'm on the Gulf Coast

In MS. The health department told me to go to a different hospital. They say I also need a tetanus shot, which I didn't get, either.

[Gothmog]

175. Raccoons on your side of the Mississippi can carry the rabies virus

So far the variation of the virus has not cross the Mississippi yet but it is only a matter of time. I would encourage you to get both sets of vaccines.

[Jenoch]

254. Thanks for the information.

Although I'm in Minnesota and we're on both sides of the Mississippi River we too do not have the rabies virus in the raccoon population. Apparently, they can sometimes acquire the skunk strain, but it is rare. I did not know this until I did some research after reading your post.

[Gothmog]

311. Skunks and bats are the major vectors in my part of the country

The disease control person who spoke to my group told us that it is very unlikely that raccoon would have the strain here. Possums can get the virus but it takes a larger dose of the virus to affect them http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/facts/rabies.html

Opossums are amazingly resistant to rabies. Hissing, drooling, and swaying are part of the opossum's bluff routine. It is intended to scare away potential predators, yet it looks just like rabies and is the reason people can be convinced they’re seeing “rabid opossums” when they’re not.

[Aerows]

314. Their body temperature as marsupials is a lot lower than most mammals

That's why they don't get it very often. I had quite the education lately on this LOL while waiting in the ER.

[Gothmog]

322. That is the same reason that I was given for their lower rate of infection

I am so sorry that you are going through this ordeal. Hang in there.

[OKNancy]

169. For those who worry about the rabies shots... they give them in the upper arm now

They no longer give them in the stomach like in the past.

[Aerows]

316. Well, no

They have to irrigate it (I had to soak my hand in some stuff for 15 minutes) and then they have to repeatedly inject it in the wound site. You do NOT want to have that done. I'm just thankful I went to the bathroom before they did that part. But yes, now I have to go back in 3 days, 7 days, 14 days and 28 days for the arm shot - which was an absolute picnic compared to when I got injected at the wound site.

[kestrel91316]

173. Here is what you need to do immediately:

Contact your physician or go to the ER. Inform them that you have an unprovoked raccoon bite and are concerned about rabies (which you BETTER be).

They are obligated to report the bit to public health authorities, but they might drop the ball. So YOU call your local health department also.

You almost certainly need rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, consisting of a single immunoglobulin injection followed by 2-4 rabies vaccinations, depending on circumstances. It is safe and effective. Failure to act quickly could end in your needless death.

[Aerows]

176. I went to the ER

this morning. They did about nothing. I thought it would need a police report, too. They didn't even act concerned. I ended up calling the Department of Health for my county, and they referred me to a different hospital in another county that has the vaccine. I didn't even get a tetanus shot this morning, just a shot of antibiotics in the hip.

[d_b]

177. GET SOME AROMATHERAPY CANDLES PRONTO

NOW'S NOT THE TIME TO BE FARTING AROUND ON DU!

[Warren Stupidity]

179. my sick sense of humor finds this to be hilarious

You get the Too Woo-woo for DU-you award.

[alphafemale]

190. That bit of levity was welcome here.

[Jamastiene]

213. ROFL!

I love this!

[CreekDog]

227. and magnets

[Kali]

240. !!!

Aerows, absolutly not laughing at you, in fact this whole thing is very frightening (we have rabid skunks around here, fox too) but that post was a major crack up, considering what has been going on in GH with the woo vs science threads.

Get those shots and then get rid of those varmints!


Good luck!

[CreekDog]

286. it might trouble you to hear this, but i agree

[Hassin Bin Sober]

320. Rofl-copter

[BlueToTheBone]

181. This is really doctor material.

Go soon. See if animal control can find the raccoon because it needs to be tested for rabies. Don't put off taking care of this. Good Luck!

[Aerows]

182. make fun

but this is damned reality. I feel like an asshole that it happened and I haven't had competent medical care yet. Be thankful you live where doctors grow on trees.

[eShirl]

184. You're not the asshole in this situation

man, I would be so pissed off!

[etherealtruth]

186. Your not an ass ... I think folk are just genuinely concerned

[athena]

189. It's totally natural

to struggle with a bit of denial after something like this. Instead of feeling like an asshole, you should be proud of yourself because you're dealing with it.

[KittyWampus]

200. if you are overwhelmed right now please know I am thinking of you and I bet quite a few other DU'ers

are as well.

You will get the shots and be okay.

[malaise]

206. You're no asshole

I know the weather is bad but get that vaccine

[lumberjack_jeff]

211. You're doing all the right stuff.

some posters are just a little behind current events.

I've learned a lot about Racoons from this thread too.

[Jamastiene]

215. My laughter above was at the Woo joke.

Not at you. Just so you know.

I'm glad you are finally getting to some intelligent medical professionals who will help you. Sounds like that hospital you went to first needs to be reported somewhere for not taking your medical situation seriously. They could have caused you to lose your life, for crying out loud. That is malpractice, if you ask me. I don't know what legal course of action you could take, but they really needed to make sure they got you in touch with a hospital that could give you the rabies vaccine.

[athena]

188. I am so glad you're getting treatment.

Thanks for posting the update.

I know you're feeling out of it; I'd feel that way, too. But it'll get better. Take good care of yourself. You're worth it!

[athena]

192. OK, I just read the entire thread.

It sounds like you didn't get the rabies shot at the hospital, but you will get it at another hospital, right? In other words, you're following through with this?

[Hekate]

196. OFFS, go to the ER now and get a rabies shot. This is not a joke & time is limited. nt

[countryjake]

201. She's already been to her local ER, they scoffed her off...

gave her antibiotics, and that was it.

The Health Department advised her to head to a hospital one county over, to see if she can get any better treatment, elsewhere.

[Hekate]

279. That's disgusting to the max. If 2 bites from a known carrier animal aren't to be treated seriously

... what the hell is?!

[countryjake]

280. That's how I'm feeling, too. Aerows should be pissed...

at the total doofus doc who saw her this morning and acted like she was being silly for even worrying.

I hope her county health department does some sort of checking into the "care" she received at that first hospital.

[Hekate]

318. You should see the newsletters my vet has in his office. Around here it's skunks...

And yes, I hope Aerows follows up with the County Health Department and makes a formal complaint. This is absolutely a public health concern.

[Aerows]

334. See, that's what I thought

I had always heard, when I lived in Florida, if you get bitten by a wild animal, they would take care of it. I guess since I live in MS, they don't particularly give a crap. I already called the animal control office once earlier, and they sent a police officer by, and since it wasn't there (because daylight) there was nothing they could do. The two adults were ... taken care of, because they were huge and vicious. This was last month.

Now this juvenile one is lurking. They are all over the freaking place because that lady is feeding them.

[Aerows]

342. I'm going to take it up with the Public Health Department for my county.

I had to call them to find out what to do and where to go and they were absolutely shocked that I got treated that way.

[Shankapotomus]

197. How is that a raccoon update?

You didn't even tell us if he was okay or anything.

[CreekDog]

226. shame on you

but I lol'd.

[Shankapotomus]

236. Well

He could have chipped a tooth and he needs those.

[mrs_p]

198. Odd behavior

Get thee to a doctor's (as suggested many times before). Rabies is not something anyone recovers from.

[nadinbrzezinski]

202. Kid let me give you a virtual hug, since at this point you DO NEED ONE

[countryjake]

203. I second that hug!

[Aerows]

275. I did!

Thank you to you too!

[Drahthaardogs]

205. Hey, you need to trap that thing and have it tested for rabies.

Or you need to go get the shots. Don't worry, they do not give them in the stomach any longer.

[Lasher]

296. I would shoot it.

That would be quicker than trapping, and it would be more likely to get the offending coon and not a different one. It takes a lab just a few hours to determine whether or not the animal had rabies, and then notify medical personnel.

[Aerows]

340. I'm pretty sure my father is going to take care of it this evening

He has guns and I don't know if this needs a hunting license, but I doubt anyone will miss the little bastard. I won't be mourning his passage after the hell I went through yesterday, and I have to go back 4 more times for shots.

[Lasher]

346. You might not have to continue treatment if the specimen tests negative for rabies.

Your county health department and doctor should make that call after lab testing has been conducted.

Hunting season probably ended there on December 31. Regardless, there isn't a department of natural resources in the country that would blame your father for killing this coon. Quite the contrary, they should encourage any effort to help control rabies. Your father probably doesn't need a license since he is a parent of the resident landowner (you). That's the way it is here in WV.

Do your best to identify this coon by appearance and/or behavior before your dad shoots it. See what your county health department says. Tell them your father is about to deliver this specimen and ask how to go about that. I'm pretty sure they are the ones who are supposed to coordinate the lab testing.

This makes me think of behavior I've seen in black bears. At a nearby dump people would go to feed the bears that were rummaging. I took my family to see them but we wouldn't get out of the car or roll down windows. Most everybody else had their families out there feeding the bears by hand. Even little kids were doing it.

When people ran out of donuts or cookies or whatever they'd brought, the bears didn't like it. I saw one bite one of the people when the food was gone, because he was mad the kitchen had just closed. It was just a little nip but then again so were yours.

Coons are a lot like little bears. Maybe that one, like the bear I watched that day, was just mad because it expected food and didn't get it.

[Aerows]

364. Probably what happened

My neighbor is feeding the little shit, but it has gotten incredibly aggressive and I can't take a chance. I'm 2 shots in, so I might as well finish up. We haven't trapped the little bastard yet. Trust me, we are trying, but the dumb lady that is feeding them has another crop running around.

[distantearlywarning]

208. Aerows...

Not trying to be a pain or anything, and I'm glad you went to the hospital, but...

when my husband had to get rabies shots because he was bitten by a cat, he got a shot of thick vaccine right at the bite location, and then shots in all his limbs. That first night, he says he remembers getting at least 5 shots in different locations. Then they scheduled him for several follow-up visits over the next few months, where he got more shots in different places. This is the standard treatment protocol for rabies these days.

If this is not what happened to you at the ER, I suspect they did not give you rabies vaccine, and you may need to address the matter further (I do see that you called your County Health department, so good on you for that!). I suspect the shot you received at your local ER may have been antibiotics. I confess that I am *extremely* surprised that they did not address the rabies issue with you at the ER.

We all hate to keep nagging you, but it really is a serious matter. Nobody here wants to read an internet story about your death two months from now. I very much hope that you will persist in seeking appropriate treatment until you receive it.

[Blue_Tires]

209. Break out the crossbow....I am not kidding

I'm all for 'live and let live' with the local wildlife, but once they start fucking around it's time to illustrate their place on the evolutionary ladder....

[countryjake]

219. You do realize that MS is experiencing unusually cold weather...

considering where it is located on the Hemisphere, right?

Wild animals all over the map are reacting to this arctic blast stretching across North America right now, freaking out and probably severely hurting in regions further North than where Aerows is. Self-preservation and survival are instinctive.

Y'all should check out the forecast down in coastal Mississippi this week and then imagine how the critters might be handling this unusually cold weather, before you jump to the conclusion that Aerow's raccoon needs to be exterminated.

[Brigid]

375. I'm not real fond of killing animals . . .

But when a racoon starts biting, it's time for it to go. They can be mean and dangerous.

[countryjake]

377. They are fairly easy to relocate. n/t

[Lasher]

298. The shotgun would be better.

I think Aerows lives in a rural area where that wouldn't be prohibited.

[renate]

217. if this raccoon has been a frequent visitor, maybe you could get a humane trap

... and catch it so it can be tested for sure to see whether it has rabies. (It sure sounds like it might, since raccoons don't normally approach people, and you certainly have to assume it does... but maybe it's just an asshole.)

I have to guess that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be trying to catch it themselves once they come to investigate, but if you're willing to spend $50 or so to get a head start on that, you can probably get a humane trap at your local hardware store.

It's unbelievable that the hospital basically patted you on the head and sent you on your way... I'm glad you have so many advisers here on DU making sure you get the rabies shots too and I'm sorry the hospital was so crappy.

[LadyHawkAZ]

225. Missed this earlier...

I hope you are OK.

[WinkyDink]

234. This saga is beyond annoying now. How daft does one have to be, to IGNORE ALL THE POSTS????

[Aerows]

238. I was at the hospital for the second time today

Sorry I couldn't update while they were poking me full of crap.

[Aerows]

237. back from the second trip to the hospital

I HIGHLY do not recommend ever getting a rabies vaccination. Both arms got stuck, and what they did to my hand is ... not pleasant. I got poked like 6 times in the wound site. The upshot is I won't die. I have to go back 4 more times, and I was running a fever.

[Kali]

242. so glad you got started

all the pokes and hassle beat the fuck out of dying from rabies. you are doing the right thing taking care of yourself.

[Paulie]

246. That's a pretty good upshot!

Feel better! It will all be complete in no time.

[Barack_America]

247. Yep. This sounds more like it.

Definitely not fun, but life-saving.

[LisaL]

248. Wimp.

I got rabies vaccine back when they were still doing it into the stomach. I got bit by a dog and then the dog died. So I get to get rabies vaccine.
I am just trying to cheer you up.

[eShirl]

294. OMG

[Blue Diadem]

313. Sending a hug! You've been through a lot.

So glad you were able to get the right information and get to a hospital that knows their stuff! I saw that you have a neighbor that feeds them. Are you able to discuss the dangers of doing that with her? The raccoon will only get worse as he grows into adulthood and the destruction they can do to a house in an attempt to gain entry is amazing. FWIW, I've know people who have had them as pets and had to get rid of them as they became more aggressive and I also know some who have raised orphaned babies. Once they reach a certain stage it's imperative they stop human contact and it's pretty early. They are then relocated to remote areas once they learn how to be self sufficient.
Good luck! I hope you're able to get someone to trap it so you don't have to continue to deal with it.

[Aerows]

331. I talked to my nextdoor neighbor, and she's the one who told me who was feeding the raccoons.

She's going to talk to the lady across the street who lives in front of the lady who is feeding them. I don't know her, but she has no freaking idea the danger she is in and causing. The lady across the street and my neighbor were extremely concerned, and I have no doubt whatsoever that Claire, the woman feeding them, will be getting an earful. After all, my neighbor's families could get bitten, too. I just don't think they knew how bad it was.

[LadyHawkAZ]

319. I'm glad to hear this!

You be well and take care of yourself.

[nolabear]

337. I'm so glad you got it taken care of. Not pleasant I know, but the best course.

Now if we just had a vaccine for the ass chewing people can get around here, eh Cher?

[nenagh]

361. What an awful experience... into the wound site and both arms..

But I'm so relieved for you Aerows... especially that the needed injections were in stock..

I'm just glad that day 1 was over Monday night... sorry I missed it... I was de-icing a driveway...

Here is a hug for you Aerows... It took a lot of strength to get to hospital #2
after having been treated in hospital #1.

Hope you are feeling OK... Take Good Care..

[Aerows]

241. Oh, I forgot the highlight beyond getting crap injected directly into the wound

They broke a needle off in my arm. I've just had barrels of joy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

243. You definintely need this

May I recommend a nice relaxing cup of tea?

[Kali]

244. ouch

you are having a rotten start to the year, but it will surely have to get better than this from here on out!

[Shrike47]

245. Aerows, I am so sorry, your day sounds awful.

[Warpy]

250. Hospital NOW

You need to get the rabies vaccine ASAP if that critter broke the skin.

Raccoons aren't ordinarily that aggressive. Rabid ones are.

[Aerows]

252. I've actually been twice today

The first time, they blew me off at a crap hospital because they didn't have the vaccine, and tried to send me off with just a shot of antibiotics.

MineralMan provided me a list of people to call, and the department of health referred me to another hospital in a county over.

Trust me, you don't ever want to get vaccinated for rabies. They had to inject the freaking wound site. It was ugly, but at least I won't die.

[Warpy]

255. No kidding. However, it used to be 30 shots in your abdomen

and since every one would swell and become inflamed, after shot 15 or so it was horrible.

But not as horrible as the disease. Three people worldwide, all kids I think, have survived rabies with massive medical intervention.

[Aerows]

257. The run-around has been the worst

You would think that a hospital would exhibit concern when someone comes in and says "I got bit by a wild animal". Oh no. I had to go again to a second hospital in a different county and that was after I called the Department of Health for my county and griped about what happened. Don't even ask about animal control. Apparently they can't do anything about the raccoons, and it's up to the department of wildlife and fisheries because it's a wild animal. Well, duh. Wouldn't you think wild animals need to be controlled?

[eShirl]

293. WHY isn't it Animal Control's job to call in Wildlife & Fisheries? WTF is wrong with them anyway.

[Aerows]

352. I called them

They said "Go to the hospital". I told them I had. Their helpful information was, "uh, well go to another one." They said they don't handle wild animals.

[eShirl]

357. I know all that. Why don't THEY think THEY should be calling in the wild animal people?

Why isn't it on them to call in the bigger guns when they run across an animal control situation they can't handle?

[Aerows]

358. If you dealt with the level of incompetence that I've dealt with during this entire ordeal

you wouldn't be surprised at this point. As another poster pointed out "No wonder people down there don't think government works." It has been unreal.

[LisaL]

259. Yea, rabies are basically 100 % lethal once person gets them.

With very few exceptions after massive medical intervension.

[dem in texas]

276. I had to take 14 shots

I was bit by a rabid dog when I was kid, it was 1 shot in the stomach every day for two weeks. They were painful, but I am thankful that they were I was able to get them.

[Jenoch]

256. I'm really glad you are going to be ok. Good luck.

[Beacool]

258. Good to know that you finally listened to advice.

If there's a next time, go right away and don't play with your life.

[dionysus]

297. hey there Bea! this will keep the mean ol raccoons away;

[Beacool]

300. That sweet little lamb is going to keep the mean coon away?

It must be stronger than it looks.

I sure can use a warm bankie today. It was 4 degrees when I got up this morning, plus the wind chill factor. It's now a toasty 12 degrees. LOL!!!

Thanks, dear for the lovely lamb.

[dionysus]

301. once the coon finds out you're a proverbial wolf in sheeps clothing, then yes, it will flee.

I know how tuff the joisey broads are...

[Beacool]

304. Yep, we are tough chicks.

We don't take crap from anyone. I would beat some sense into that nasty coon, unless it looks rabid. In which case, I would make a hasty retreat into my abode and call 9/11. They got guns.......

[dionysus]

305. all the coon has to do is make a move after your bankie, and it's over...

[Beacool]

312. Oh no, he better not!!!

No rabid coon is going to take one of my bankies and get away with it. I would just have to use a pot lid as a shield and smack him with one of my cast iron skillets. That would teach him a lesson he would soon not forget.

[Liberty Belle]

260. It could be rabid.

That's bizarre behavior and raccoons do carry rabies.

The good news is the shots are now given in the arm, not like the old days when they gave it in the stomach. I'd definitely get one and call animal control.

[Aerows]

263. Called animal control

They can't do anything because it's a wild animal. I got referred to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. If you had any idea how many layers of idiocy I've had to go through today just to get treatment for getting bitten by a wild animal, you would be amazed. I've had to go to two different hospitals.

[Cleita]

269. Yet the same dept. seems to have no problem killing cougars in my

neighborhood who were spotted hunting ducks.

[Aerows]

270. It's just incompetency

and not willing to freaking actually do anything for the public.

[Bobbie Jo]

265. Just adding this here

Glad you posted this instead of shrugging it off and going about your day. Sounds like you're on the right track, so take a deep breath and relax a bit. Looks like your fellow DU'ers had your back on this one.

[Glassunion]

268. I'm glad you got the shots. It's terrible what happened. But the upside is you made a new friend.

[MADem]

353. That is a creeeeeeeepy picture...the raccoon looks like he is harboring no small degree of

hatred in contrast to the fellow holding him, who looks absurdly overjoyed....

[countryjake]

273. What a relief to read that you've finally begun those rabies shots!

Now take care, try to relax, and do stay angry at the dopes who blew you off at that first hospital. You never know, they could have cost you your life, if that coon is actually sick.

I'm so sorry that you've had to go thru all this. Hugs to you!



(and teach that kitty that it must eat inside, if you haven't already done so. Winter is the ideal time to accomplish that!)

Happy healing!

[Aerows]

363. My kitten has been inside since :)

The shots make you feel like shit, though.

[PearliePoo2]

292. Do not EVER feed raccoons, no matter how tempting it may be.

Yeah...their cute little masked faces looking at you, so cute sitting there with their little paws begging...DO NOT DO IT.
If you feed them, it's just a matter of time until you have packs of them swarming at your door. Each mother will bring her entire litter of kits to get fed.
They will take over and things will get ugly, escalate and out of control quickly. Any pet you have will become competition and a threat to them and they WILL attack it.
I have seen them fight, attack and bite each other over a food source. It is nasty, ugly and really scary to watch.
They will now demand and expect food from you. If there is any delay in your feeding them for any reason, they will punish and attack you. They are like vicious, little terrorists holding you hostage in your house and if you have been feeding them, you have been the cause of this cluster-fuck. They will not just go away.
You need to trap and eliminate them. Sad, but true.
If you can't stomach the idea, then hire it done. It will take a long time to get them all but at this point you have to do it. They will never just go away on their own.

[Aerows]

299. I found out that there is a lady

around the corner from me that has been feeding them. She has no freaking idea of the danger she is in, nor the danger she brought on the neighborhood. They were eating my cat's food if I left it out at night, and at first I thought it was cute. When two adults charged the back door and tried to get inside, it wasn't cute anymore. They've lost all fear of humans.

I learned my lesson and quit feeding them, but the lady still is so they keep lurking around. I hope she never has to endure what I did yesterday, and will continue to have to endure. The little bastard is so aggressive now, it has no fear. I keep my cat in at night, so thankfully she is safe, but I will *never* under any circumstances encourage one at this point. I learned first hand, no pun intended, just how freaking dangerous they are.

[arthritisR_US]

303. Aerows, I just learned of your crappy situation, so sorry to hear about this! I am so glad

you are getting the appropriate treatment although it's miserable as hell.

The little critters are cute as can be but looks are deceiving, they wake up every day on the wrong side of the bed. Miserable little sods!

Take care my friend, healing vibes and understanding being sent your way

[msanthrope]

307. Is it worthwhile talking to the neighbor? Asking her to stop feeding???

If not.....can you trap or shoot the little fucker???

[PearliePoo2]

325. Agree!

Aerows and the neighbor that is feeding the raccoons need to have a nice long chat! The neighbor needs to see in person what havoc, pain and grief her feeding of these animals has caused. If she can't be reasoned with, then the law needs to be researched.
I will bet there is a statute regarding feeding wild animals and she is violating it.
At the very least, I would think the harboring and feeding of raccoons constitutes a public nuisance and health liability. You can call the State or County and inquire
A sheriff's deputy pulling up in her driveway to investigate might get her attention.
Who knows, the idiot neighbor may be hostage in her own house at this point anyway!
BTW, traps work great baited with peanut butter and cats won't be attracted to it. Small shotguns at close range are also effective as well as a .22 rifle. (must be an accurate head shot though)
Raccoon carcasses placed in a field will quickly be disposed of by eagles, turkey vultures, owls and ravens.

[Gothmog]

310. There are some raccoons at the state park where I have been camping

These raccoons have no fear of people and can be very aggressive about trying to steal food. They can open ice chests with ease. Luckily, the virus that can affect raccoons have not made it to Texas yet and there is some hope that this virus will not cross the Mississippi. Currently the virus strain that affects raccoons is limited to the East Coast region for now.

[PearliePoo2]

327. Aerows..please see my post downthread #325

And good luck to you!

[Dash87]

338. Raccoons are mean little things.

It's hard enough trying to keep the damn coyotes here from eating your pets. They're everywhere and travel together in large numbers. I always hear them howling as a pack and yipping - especially on cold nights like now where they're hungry. They nonchalantly walk around like they own the place (well, I guess they do in a way). I luckily haven't seen many raccoons (besides the occasional dead one I see on the road). One tried to come up to me once and I yelled at it until it ran away - he was being fed, no doubt.

I used to feed the squirrels in my backyard until I found a coyote poop near where I was feeding them. I left the food out during the day, too, and never over night. Do not want...

[CountAllVotes]

308. Agree

I dislike raccoons immensely.

They are no longer "cute" when they grow up, esp. if they are the pack leader.

I saw a pack leader once on the steps to where I used to live. He had fangs and was all puffed up and mean as all hell looking.

Raccoons beat the crap out of a cat I had around this same time. She was found lying in the driveway and bleeding with numerous wounds on her.

I took her to the vet ASAP and luckily she survived this brutal attack.

Raccoons are one animal out there that I wish would just go away. They are dangerous as hell and nothing to play around with.

And yes, you are very right -- NEVER FEED A RACCOON! Once you start doing this, they will never go away. I had the damn things coming inside of my duplex if the window was left open at night and no, I was not feeding them or encouraging them one bit.

They finally went away along with the skunks after I adopted a rather mean Maine Coon kitten. I had no idea what sort of cat this was but I'll tell you one thing, he ran off every single living thing that was anywhere near his home, rats included. He was a tough old sucker known as "the bully of the block". Maybe he was a bully, but he sure got rid of those skunks, rats and raccoons. He was fearless indeed.

I hate the damn things I will admit.

[Aerows]

367. My dear Gaston a Maine Coone cat died a few years ago

He was big as a house and took no shit. I miss him. Gaston was amazing as a cat.

[CountAllVotes]

382. Maine Coon cats

I sure miss my Maine Coon (he was a stray I adopted, maybe not a throughbred but a Maine Coon nonetheless!). He was fearless and he used to love water (a characteristic of a Maine Coon cat).

He loved to be out in the huge storms that hit here up north, braving the weather and hunting 24/7. That was his life, hunting and catching things.

So, we had an automatic pest control system in place when we got that cat and did not even know it.

I had to give him away to a no-kill shelter sadly as the asswhole neighbors all hated him being he was such a beast. They tried to poison him on Thanksgiving and I had no choice but to find a place for him to go.

He ended up being adopted by a man that had just lost his wife that owns as small ranch south of where I live. It was a perfect match I was told. I hope I was told the truth about what happened to my Maine Coon. I loved that cat and cried my eyes out for months after having to let him go like that.

Fuck asswhole neighbors! That is about all I can say!

I hope you are recovering and I'm pretty sure you don't have rabies as you'd likely be sick as hell and/or dead my now.

Hang-in there and may Gaston RIP!

[Puglover]

295. Glad you went and had the shots.

I was bitten by a dog in Ecuador last Feb. Totally provoked. I held out a biscoccho to a feral dog and so of course being that he was starving he grabbed my hand. Hard and drew blood. Probably nothing to worry about.

I mentioned it to my Dr. when I got home and 20 min. later I had 6 injections in the butt and of course the 4 follow ups.

She (Dr.) said rabies is exactly like having chest pains in the ER. They don't second guess they act. Because once the symptoms manifest themselves you are toast. Period. I believe one gal in Michigan survived it back in the 90's. One.

The treatment (for me) was nothing.

Glad to hear you're fine Aerows.

[Lithos]

302. To add some information

At least around here, Raccoons go into heat Late December and usually do not get out until the end of the March time frame. The males get very territorial and grouchy. Later on the females get to the point where they try and return to a solitary existence to have their babies - i.e., drive the males off.

A Rabid Raccoon or one with Distemper would have been unrelenting. My guess is that this was just a juvie going thru their first mating season.

Raccoons are wild and unless you can catch them while young, you have virtually no chance of socializing them to even be tolerable. Even so, my understanding is that even those raised as "pets" have to be given extra space in mating season. The best news is to not try and feed them. Should they become a recurring pest, there are no-kill services which are available which will trap and transport the Raccoon to a more appropriate location. In no case should you try and socialize them or encourage them - they are far too curious and far too destructive to be desirable.

L-

[CountAllVotes]

306. Years ago I was bit by a stray cat

He had been lurking around where I live and one day he wanted food I guess. I had no food for him and he bit me on the arm.

The next day my arm hurt REALLY BAD and was all swollen up and wow did it ever hurt.

I went to the ER and was told that they needed to find that cat ASAP and if they could not find it or spot it, I'd have to get the series of rabies shots.

Luckily, said cat was spotted a few days later.

If it was rabid, it would have likely died not long after it bit me I was told.

I never knew anything about rabies and raccoons (we had those and skunks as well living under/around the duplex where I lived at that time).

In any event, I ended up being put on huge doses of penicillin and I did recover and fortunately the cat was not rabid as it was still around for a few years after I was bitten.

When an animal has rabies (there was a rabid skunk around here recently), they tend to do things they normally never do. In the case of the rabid skunk, it was running around during the day and how often does one see a skunk running around during the day? Answer: Not often -- in fact never seen one during the day running around.

Odd/unusual behavior is a symptom of a rabid animal.

I hope you are ok and if you can round up that raccoon, please do so and take it to the animal control center where they can determine whether or not it is rabid. I rather think it is not rabid for one reason: It is still alive.

Once an animal turns rabid, they tend to not live a whole lot longer I was told.

[Aerows]

368. I'm not certain what is "odd behavior" with this bunch of raccoons

They rush the door, bite you, (when before they were kind of nice) and this does not appear to be typical mating behavior. I know they get rough in January. This is incredibly rough with everything.

[Smarmie Doofus]

315. I've had it with your relentless raccoon-bashing. Take this!

Sorry... I had to do it.

Glad you're out of the woods. ( So to speak.)

[Lint Head]

339. Please see a doctor. But I have to ask. You need to stay positive. I apologize in advance.

Did you get a good description? Was he wearing a mask?

[countryjake]

356. hee hee

I've been waiting for someone to ask her that question.

[Aerows]

369. Yeah.

And he wasn't foaming at the mouth but highly aggressive since it is January. But this was a juvenile, and several have also been highly aggressive. I know I could be an asshole, but I'm an asshole that is inoculated against rabies after I got bitten. I did nothing aggressive. I hope to goodness my neighbors get a clue and either get inoculated (It's painful as hell) or quit feeding them.

[countryjake]

376. If I were you, I'd find a pamphlet on why it's so wrong to feed...

wild critters and anonymously drop it off at that woman's house, somehow. She's not only endangering herself, but everyone else in your neighborhood, too. I know that out here, Fish and Wildlife has them, cause I've done similar with such pamphlets, myself.

I went back and read your "raccoon saga" threads; all that I wanted to say to you about that is to be very wary for your kitty's sake. I used to own the most expensive cat in the Pacific Northwest, after a mama coon made mincemeat out of him and it cost me a fortune to save his life. Since that horrific experience, I've been a firm advocate of keeping all kitties inside, at all times. I've currently got two ferals who have become dear housecats.

I sure hope you get thru all of these shots okay. Take it easy while that crap is surging throughout your system.

[orpupilofnature57]

351. Another Cellphone injury, PROOF cellphones Require every human sense to

Operate .

[NM_Birder]

362. 9 Iron...no, no ....pitching wedge.

[Aerows]

365. Been back for round 2 of vaccine

Nothing could be more unpleasant that the first round, this one just made me crabby. Moral of the story, don't get bitten by wild animals. If you do, well, don't in the first place.

[Aerows]

366. My hand it better

It attacked me on the hand, and then got me on the toe. I'm going through rabies full, and I'm on two. It makes you feel like an idiot, woozy, and loss of appetite.

[arthritisR_US]

370. Glad to hear you are getting treatment inspite of the side effects.

Sending you healing vibes. Take care my friend and rest up

[Aerows]

371. I think fever is most of the problem

I'm taking Ibuprofen regularly for fever. This is by no means fun. Don't get bit by a wild animal.

[arthritisR_US]

372. What a damn scary thing to happen! How high does the fever go? nt

[Aerows]

373. Mine is hovering at 99-100

Low grade sustained fun.

[arthritisR_US]

374. That's the same degree you find when fighting a low grade infection. Did they say

how long it will be like that?

[TDale313]

378. Thanks for keeping us updated.

Glad you're doing ok and getting the care you need.

[pnwmom]

380. So sorry this happened, but I'm sure glad you decided to get treatment.

Rabies isn't something to take a chance on.

Get better soon!

[alphafemale]

383. Was the suspect animal captured?

These kind of stories scare me because a kid might not tell a parent if they were only slightly bitten by a wild animal.