Dog people help! Rabid dog in my yard, how long can rabies live on grass?

[knifegill]

I can't let my dog out to use the front yard because we just had a rabid foaming chihuahua run through it dripping saliva everywhere. Some kids were close behind and nervously picked up the dog, so that's all good now. But how long is that foam dangerous out there? I vinegarized the visible spots to kill the germs in them but I know I don't see all of the foam and my dog will immediately sniff the heck out of it and inhale it if he gets out there. What can I do? How long do I quarantine the yard from him?

 

[jason longboard]

wow, never heard this before lol, sad but crazy, good luck and you may want to call a vet over what you might get on here, maybe an emergency vet is open today not sure. Just to ask them to be sure. Crazy story.

 

[CLDarnell]

Most likely, its not rabies. It was probably an over-exterted Chihuahua...or at worst case, poisoining. Rabies is actually very rare here in the US (assuming you are in the US). The only way your dog can contract rabies is to be bitten. Also, there's no way anyone could pick up an animal in an advanced stage of rabies.

Depending on the weather outside (again, not sure where you live), this time of year any germ shouldn't last too long if its around the freezing mark.

I would be concerned about poisoning. If its warm, you could water your yard and help dilute any residue.

For now, I would keep your dog on a least and avoid "hot spots".

Good luck to you!

 

[Oddball]

Rabies virus can live in spilled saliva and be transferred to another animal or humans. The virus may enter the body via a cut or abrasion; by an animal stepping in the saliva then, licking its paw; by a rabid animal hissing at another animal (the hissed out saliva can enter via the eyes, nose, or mouth); or, by a human contacting the saliva with fingers then rubbing the eyes or mouth area.
Rabies is a virus that can estivate (go dormant) when environmental conditions are not ideal. The expelled virus lasts longer in cold weather than in warm weather.

The spilled infected saliva may be cleaned with alcohol or disinfectant soap. Be sure to wear surgical/waterproof gloves. Do not wipe up any saliva before contacting it liberally with a cleaning agent. Bag (plastic) the cleaning rags/paper towels/gloves, tie off the bag once finished, and discard.

 

[cichlid2006]

You can indeed get rabies from the saliva outside the body but from what I have found about the virus it dies almost immediately once it is no longer in the host. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5584487_long-virus-live-outside-host_.html
http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/rabiesEN.html
http://onlinemedicinetips.com/disease/r/rabies/Can-The-Rabies-Virus-Survive-Outside-Of-The-Body.html
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/rabies/bat/handlers.htm#19

You should be ok but all my medical books and all the websites I have visited say it is very sensitive to heat and even normal soaps. I suggest watering your garden with hot water and some washing up liquid. Shouldn't kill your grass but it should put your mind at ease if you are still worried after reading the material provided.

If it is indeed rabies then this shows that it is present in your area which means you should always get your pets vaccinated to ensure their safety.

 

[Mattyou]

The least i would do is find the kids and find out WTFO with that dog.

 

[Dan F]

I think you are OK.

This is from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine's rabies page:

"In the United States, cats and dogs do not carry rabies. That is, the disease does not perpetuate itself among cat or dog populations. When a domestic animal becomes infected with rabies in this country, it is from the bite of a wild animal, usually a skunk, fox, or raccoon. In Louisiana, skunks are responsible for most cases of rabies in domestic animals."

http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/rabies_info.htm

 

[kingkarter]

your dog will be fine

 

[Illbuyourcatfish]

Douse the lawn in gas and light the whole thing on fire, I feel that would be bullet proof. Jeez, do I have to think of everything??

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Most likely, its not rabies. It was probably an over-exterted Chihuahua...or at worst case, poisoining. Rabies is actually very rare here in the US (assuming you are in the US). The only way your dog can contract rabies is to be bitten. Also, there's no way anyone could pick up an animal in an advanced stage of rabies.

I agree, you can't pick up a rabid animal that is at the point of drooling.