Why Does a Dog Need to Be Quarantined for 10 Days After Biting Someone?

While infection is the most common health effect associated with animal bites, the rabies virus is also a reasonable concern. When a dog bites a human or if he is suspected of having been exposed to the rabies virus, local law typically requires the animal to be quarantined. Depending upon a number of factors including the bite wound, the dog's vaccinations and local laws, a dog may be quarantined between 10 days and six months, or possibly euthanized.

  1. Rabies

    • All warm-blooded animals, including humans, are susceptible to contracting the rabies virus. The virus is usually transmitted through bites. Once rabies enters the body, it travels along the nervous system until finally reaching the brain. After a dog begins showing symptoms of the virus, death is expected to occur within 10 days. There is no cure once signs develop within the animal. Because rabies has such a long incubation period, sometimes dogs are quarantined for up to six months, depending on their vaccination status and laws within the local area.

    Vaccinated Dogs

    • For dogs with up-to-date vaccinations, quarantine may not be required. If it is, however, the quarantine period typically lasts for 10 days. Just because your pet was vaccinated does not mean that he has not contracted the virus. He must be quarantined to determine whether or not he was infected when the bite occurred. If, after the 10-day period is over, the dog shows no signs of rabies, it will be determined that the dog did not transmit rabies to the individual who was bitten.

    Dogs With Expired Vaccinations

    • Quarantine is typically required by local law for dogs that have expired rabies vaccinations. Depending on the bite, behavior of the animal and length of time the vaccinations have been expired, your pet may or may not need to be quarantined outside of the home. Typically, the animal must be vaccinated immediately at the expense of the owner. After vaccinating the dog, he must be quarantined within the home for approximately 45 days. If required by law, animal control officers will check in on the pet and make sure the owner is following procedure. Once the quarantine period is up, animal control officers will "release" the pet.

    Dogs With No Vaccinations

    • Vaccinations are incredibly important, not only to the health of your beloved pet, but to the health of others as well. It's almost impossible to tell whether dogs without rabies vaccinations have contracted or transmitted the virus. Because of this, dogs who have not been vaccinated may need to be quarantined, or -- worst case scenario -- euthanized. Testing for rabies requires brain tissue examination, which is not a procedure that a pet will survive. Check your local laws to see whether or not you're able to put your dog in isolation for six months instead of euthanizing. Keep in mind, however, that the owner is responsible for all expenses while the dog is in quarantine. After six months, if your dog is exhibiting healthy behavior and no signs of rabies, he may be released from quarantine.