I was bit by my pet rat help!

Question

Today i was playing with one of the new baby rats i got as a friend for him(my giant white rat i got from the pet store 2 months ago) and he bit my finger. he bit it so hard that i heard a crunch and blood shot out.

I stopped the bleeding but people are telling me to get a tetanus shot since my last one was about 7 years ago. I am trying to avoid that at all causes being that i pass out and feel like c**p when getting shots. It's not a good experience.

What should I do. Do you think i will die if i dont get a tetanus shot?

Here is a photo of the bitehttp://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7938/biteye4.jpg

will I be ok even if i dont get a tetanus shot? What will happen to me? what should i be looking out for? kinda scared but dont want to go get a shot because i know i will pass out and it wont be good

Answer 1

You are covered for tetanus for 10 years, however, you need to be concerned about rabies. You need to contact animal control and let them know what happened and they will most likely have you quarantine the rat that bit you for 14 days to see if it develops any signs of rabies. If it does you will have to go through a series of rabies shots which you really won't like. Good luck!

Answer 2

I agree that you're probably ok with the tetanus shot, but more importantly, it's surprising that you were bitten by your rat.  I'm not a rat expert, but I have had them as pets and was never bitten.  Check with the rat people here, but it might mean he's not going to be a good pet.

Answer 3

My doctor says you should get a tetanus shot every ten years, so you're still covered.