What should I do if I get bitten by a stray dog in Thailand?

May 12, 2023
a year ago
LS *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
3rd week in Thailand, bitten by stray dog. Went to ER getting rabbie shots.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This discussion revolves around an expat's experience of being bitten by a stray dog in Thailand and seeking rabies shots. Various commenters share their insights on the costs of treatment, the importance of timely medical care, and insurance coverage for such incidents. They also share experiences regarding stray dogs in Thailand and offer preventative advice for future encounters, emphasizing the need for caution.
Ellen **********
Happene to meon my morning walk. I didnt hear them and didnt see them. 2 dogs came out of nowhere and attacked me. One at each leg. I drove to the next local clinic who told me the nearest and cheapest place to get the shots. A few days later i saw them at the same place in front of a supermarket and they were just sitting there whagging theit tails. An organisation took them later because they attacked more people. Hope you wound is not so big.
Bob *******
Hope you’re ok
Timothy ********
Not really sure what kind of people laugh at that post.. Seriously,. Wtf... My condolences. Hope all is well
Terry ********
Happened to me. Walking in CNX market. Went to EM and got shot. Had to return every 3 days for booster.
Dada ****
Omg make me scared to see what kind of people are coming to Thailand😔 No compassion for anyone or anything. This lady got bitten by a dog but instead you guys are laughing at her…😳
Ellen **********
@Dada ***
i come to Thailand since 40 years and live here since 21. Sadly i have to say Thailand became a magnet for human trash. And its getting worse.
Nicxy *******
All you need is a motor bike spill and your babtized
Momo *******
A donation to a local animal welfare company can help to get the dogs neutered. 🤷
John ***********************
watch out for the monkeys too. In pattaya i was posing with a monkey who was super chill, but as i walked to the car, a monkey on a fence hissed at me and showed its teeth! Quick google shows they can be nasty lil shites so best steer clear of them
Momo *******
@John **********************
Sure. Wild animals. Especially nice when they get the impression they need to protect their little ones. 😬

Every morning and afternoon we had a group of maybe 15 on and around our house until I installed ultrasonic devices.
John ***********************
@Momo ******
i think the one that hissed at me might have been pregnant, but if one goes for you the whole pack does! defo steer clear. The ultra device sounds good!
Momo *******
@John **********************
Yes. They help each other.

Actually, I bought the ultrasound devices to get rid of a mousy "guest" and learned, that they keep the monkeys at bay. That was quite a relief 😊
Dave *********
Yeah sorry to hear. I stay away from dogs that look to active. Also carrying a stick works. Most soi dogs are scared of most.
Martin *********
Thats a nightmare
Ron *****
How'd you manage that do tell
Sam *******
Focus on the fact you got to hospital quickly.

The Thais are great like that.

It would be harder in a different country.

Just follow all their instructions.
Mark ********
Did you approach it or try to touch it? The ones in my area are like people. They will roam around you but like to be left alone. I try not to interact with them.
Istvan *********
@Leo *****
girls was included? 😂😂😂
Leo ******
I don´t remember! We saw the invoice and just stared at them. It´s a scam and I think it´s hard to fight a hospitals way of ripping you off when a insurance companys customer was hurt...
Joe **********
It’s a right of Passage… Along with Rampant Food Poisoning !
Dave **********
@Joe *********
23 years and have not experienced what you refer to as a Right of Passage
Joe **********
@Dave *********
24 Years for me
Dave **********
@Joe *********
my point is never bitten by a dog in all those years. which is the normal experience.
Jay ********
@Joe *********
I'm still recovering from some horrible food posining. Or it was the water they used for my soup . They claim it was filtered water but obviously that filter hasn't been changed in long time
Edna *******
So sorry!
Christopher ***********
You’ve done the right thing. Go to A/E as soon as possible. Not expensive in Thailand. You should be able to claim under your travel insurance (if applicable).
George *******
Visa advice for bitten by a stray dog?
Tomas ********
Happened to me, had pretty bad anxiety as a result of the bite. Went to hospital and got rabbies immugoblin ( which is supposed to help as protective measure before I got administered vaccine shots)
Bizkit ******
Total 4 injections take care
James *******
I have been here many years. In the city and everywhere in the jungles. I have experienced thousands of dogs. Never once have had any try to bite me. Some people think that all dogs are safe to approach. This is not the case. These dogs are street smart. They see humans as an threat. To many people get cute bear syndrome and get themselves hurt. Keep your distance and you will be fine.
Timothy ********
That may be presumptuous. There are dogs that are very territorial and aggressive and will approach people and who knows what happens then
Sophie *********
@James ******
That's not actually, factually, true.
James *******
@Sophie ********
actually it is. Prove me wrong.
Mark ********
@James ******
Exactly. I don't even look at them very long. I leave them completely alone. They usually mind their business. In Pattaya I had a whole pack of them follow me to my car though and the leader was barking. I was ready for a fight that day. Luckily they gave up.
Scott ********
If you have a bank card insurance.I was able to get reimbursed for the 6000 baht I was billed for my dog bite
Scott ********
After this series if you get bitten again less shots on the second one
Eric ********
When I ride my bike and a dog harassed me, I stop immediately, drop the bike and (pretend to) pick up a stone or stick. Shouting loudly with arm raised I run at the animal.. I no longer have dog problems. But you seriously need rabies etc medical attention ..
Antonino *******
@Eric *******
, right; it happened sometime to me too, when I use my bicycle with my wife, some dog followed us barking, but it's enough to shout, showing we are more powerful than it.

The problem is that many people leave their own dog free on the road, without paying attention to them; I have an American Bully, it has this bad habit, but we keep it by leash.
David ********
He said "rabbie" 😂
Mark **********
Don't go that place anymore the dogs are sensing something from you
Kern ************
Gotta keep your feet 👣 moving 🏃‍♂️💨
Claire **********
Hope the dogs ok 👌
John *******
You luck was only dog bite if bar girl bite you cost more money 🤣🤣🤣
Richard **********
I get chased regular when cycling,I never give the dogs eye contact🙂
Baz ******
If you hit a dog with your cat, and they see/know they will try to get money out of you

If their dog causes the accident they say "not our did"

Too many stray dogs in Thailand, Thais have them and most don't look after them.

Time to chop the balls off with stray dogs, they run around in packs at night.

You won't be the first or last getting bitten by dogs, trouble is Thais don't give a ####
Paul *******
@Baz *****
If you mean hitting a dog with your car, has happened to me several times. First time, at 120km/h, dog died instantly. No one tried to extract any money from me. Second time many years later, dog limped away and seemed to be OK. No problems either.
Henrik **************
@Baz *****
I would like to see when u hit a dog with your cat 🤣
Baz ******
@Henrik *************
don't have cats, have 4 huskies who are part of our family

Walked 3 times a day and very muched loved. Unlike most thais
Mark *****
@Baz *****
you lied then ! 🤣
Mark *****
@Henrik *************
beat me to it ! 🤣🤣🤣
Tamara **********
And?
Erik ************
At least it's not Chlamydia.
John **********
Rabbie Burns?
Martin *********
More painful then the dog bite is the first two injections they actually put into the cut ! .. that’s BEFORE the first rabies shot and tetanus injection .. hopefully your insured
หลิน ***************
I'm sorry about the incident in my country, there are so many dogs.
Ross ***********
if you get bitten a second time on the good side only need 2 injections
Paul *******
@Ross **********
Actually, they'll try to give you at least 5 injections. The more the better for the hospital.
Ross ***********
@Paul ******
6 years ago cat scratch Krabi 5 needle, friendly dog bite 2 months ago 2 injections $15 each one government hospital
Chika *******
The government should get rid of them . It's scary
Paul *******
@Chika ******
I heard they're trying. Obviously not hard enough though.
Lai *************
Will the government pay for the fee?
Mar *****
Any Visa advice...?
Elmo *******
Weird, in Pattaya or Bangkok, they was pretty calm and never attacked us. My guess was because people give them food... But wild animals stay wild...hope you'll be better
Stewart **********
Get it done!
Dave *******
Been all over this amazing country for many yrs. Don't mess with dogs or cat's. Leave them they won't bother you.
Martin *********
@Dave ******
not so easy , especially jogging up and around Pratumnak in the parks for example , not alway but often
Paul *******
@Dave ******
Don't walk but drive through certain areas is the best advice I can give. Especially small sois.
Tulip ********
@Dave ******
even the rabid ones, And Thai ridgebacks? Maybe you smell of sausages
Kim *********
@Dave ******
wrong - some are very aggressive
Casey ********
@Dave ******
lol. They chase people down the road, what are you talking about?
YI ****
@Casey *******
And also what if they are in my way? I am talking only about dogs not cats.
Paul *******
@Casey *******
They even chase cars down the road!
Casey ********
Probably was not a stray. They are too scared to approach people
Stig **************
@Casey *******
dang right, never strays, and not many soil dog's are strays, they only strays when u get bitten and try to find the owner..😅
Jon ******
Lucky u. Karma ?
Jason ********
That’s very scary to hear. As a crazy cat guy, I am always petting stray cats that I see everywhere. I will be more careful, thanks for the warning.  
Mike ********
@Jason *******
I had 3 kittens where I live and also found a large cat dead one morning, then one by one the kittens started getting I took one to the vet and it was feline hiv,. and the nova virus, within days they all died, cost me 6000bht in vets fees !
Andrew *********
A word of advice, don’t touch stray dogs cats or lady boys in Thailand, they are not like domestic animals, they are wild animals and don’t have owners , so natural instincts kick in to protect themselves.
Jack **********
Andrew *********
@Jack *********
I know a few ,my neighbour was married to one here in Australia, had the best boobs I have ever seen , but they ended up getting divorced, because she wouldn’t cook or clean , what did he expect, she used to be a dude 😂 and if you want ladies boys head off to Nana Plaza for a look 👀, it only costs you a drink 🥃 for them and their friends to have a chat 😬
Xavier *******
You seem to know a lot about lady boys.
John **********
5 shots now 5shots in another 7 days and more shots when you go back home.
Greg *********
Those dogs are terrifying
Mike *********
Bite him back
Andrew ********
? So what !
Stu **********
Wear sensible shoes so you can protect yourself. Somehow made it 7 year without being bitten. Use your big boy voice to assert yourself has always done the job even in packs
Mike ********
@Stu *********
What like these ?…
Stu **********
@Mike *******
closed toes
Dawn ********
Citronella spray or pepper spray you can get a small bottle that should keep them away
Michael *******
Yes I got bitten by a wild cat in pattaya and had to have rabies top up jabs 🤫
Dave *******
@Michael ******
Wot did you do 2 the wild Cat first.
Michael *******
@Dave ******
nothing wrong I was feeding her at first she seemed to be quite friendly but very large, and then I got over confident and tried to stroke her all went well at first but then something frightened her and in the panic to get away she bites me 🤫
Dave *******
@Michael ******
Well so nice you feeding her well done. But then they very shy and may bite being touched.
Dave *******
xx
John ********
How's the dog 🐕
Thomas *******
Som nom na
Geoff ********
The dog may not be rabbid, you can tell mostly by it's behaviour

You may need 5 injections

I had 3 injections 4 years ago and there still valid, if I get a bite I will need 2 more
Richard **************
Living the dream
Lee *******
soi 6 pattaya ? 555
Step *****
Get the rabbis and cov!d , Thaïland offert 6 shots so far.
Paul *******
@Stephane ********
Also, make sure to double mask and wear a face shield too.
David ***********
Yep get a rabbies shot and the follow ups. Red Cross do them
Marc ********
I hope the dog is ok.

Poor devil got a taste confusion
Jason ******
Wow - you’re going to die!
Timothy **********
I was given advice from a friend who has lived in Thailand for a long time to get the Rabies vaccination before I retire! His family has had several lost to rabies. He said the monkeys carry rabies.
Lynnette *******
@Darren ******
incorrect. The vaccination gives you protection and you don't need the long course of treatment.
Paul *******
@Timothy *********
Extremely small chance of ever getting bitten by a monkey or a dog and not worth the potential side effects to get a "just in case" injection. In the unlikely event you are bitten, deal with it then. The doctors and nurses will probably give you the same treatment regardless.
Alistair **********
@Billy ******
it's not. It's only 300-400B at some clinics. They get you to get extra shots as added protection, because rabies is basically 100% fatal once symptoms appear
Billy *******
@Alistair *********
Do you know anyone who actually died of Rabies or Tetanus? I know people who nearly died of Dengue. Dengue is real. Why no quackseen? Why no quackseen for Herpes? Cancer? Because quackseens only work on unicorns.
Alistair **********
@Billy ******
hahahahahaha because you lack basic understanding. Put your money where your mouth is, go get bitten by a rabid dog then
Billy *******
@Alistair *********
I was. And the dog died 3 days later. It was old and half dead. Awnery. That's why it bit me. But I know better than to get injected with who knows what.
Lynnette *******
@Billy ******
you don't know better, you know less.
Billy *******
@Lynnette ******
Believe what you want to believe. But it's more likely you were lied to than not. What company has paid the highest fine in history to settle felony charges? I doubt you know.
Lynnette *******
@Billy ******
its a rabies vaccine to avoid post bite treatment or death. This treatment can be painful and also you must access this within 24 hours. Theres a shortage of the list bite serum and the patient could be in an area far from a hospital that can treat thrm. No ones lied to me. I was offered the choice. I prefer prevention to having to seek emergency treatment. So I'm vaccinated. Same with tetanus.

I dont care if you prefer taking the risk because you seem to be ill informed, quite irrelevant.
Billy *******
@Lynnette ******
Read the books Deadly Deception and Contagion Myth. You've been lied to. HIV doesn't cause AIDS either.
Timothy **********
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
From what I gather from the Canadian health care site is that if you have the vaccination and you are exposed the follow up is two injections not the full program since you have the antibodies in your system. Must be like a booster shot?
Billy *******
@Timothy *********
it's all nonsense to make money
Billy *******
Erik Lundmark I read books by Doctors. Ones not beholden to Big Harma. Read "Contagion Myth". Doctors have prescribed some horrible deadly pills throughout recent history. Did you forget this?
Ilkka ***********
Get antibiotics too for a case.
Muhammad *************
Get well soon bud.

And Welcome to the land of smiles .
Lisa ********************
Where was this ?
Rob *******
Was that short or long time ?
Claudia **********
What is your question?
Marc ********
@Claudia *********
If the dog has got blood poisoning now I guess
Ricky ******
OMG. Better safe than sorry
DK *****
Unfortunately, dogs reflect the owner or the society. Spread your arms and look intense next time.
Vincent ********
next time you have a similar problem just pretend to bend down and pick up a rock, the dogs will run away fast
Calvin *********
@Vincent *******
when I got bit those damn dogs that got me were not afraid of rocks. Everyday on my jog after I got bit I chased those stupid dogs around the 7-11 parking lot hoping for a clear background so I could throw my rocks at them. Intead it was just me chasing hoping to get close enough to get a good kick in.
Vincent ********
@Calvin ********
sorry for you but here in Chiangmai you do that and the dogs run away
Bob *******
@Vincent *******
what if it’s a ladyboy dog?
Rei ***********
@Vincent *******
that's when the dog bites him in the ass and ran away.
Оливер *********
First night in Bangkok, found a stray in me bed the next morning
Ricky ******
@Оливер ********
All been there. Give em b'fast and they'll usually disappear after.
Riny ************
@Оливер ********
Be carefull. Maybe you need an other shot then a Rabius shot.
Erik *******
@Оливер ********
Got get vaccines 💉 against STD asap !!! Worst than rabbies: 7 shots in a month !!!
Todd *********
@Оливер ********
will last as long as your money does
John **********
I now make sure to carry a decent blade just incase. Had a few dogs attack my puppy not to long ago. Let's just say that there are less wild dogs running around shortly after that Incident
Lesley-ann ********
Ricky ******
@John *********
Excellent idea. Probably entitles you to a long free stay at the Bangkok Hilton.
John **********
@Ricky *****
highly doubt in when it was done during attack
Ricky ******
@John *********
Good luck arguing that in fluent Thai😃
John **********
@Ricky *****
already been taking care of months ago 🤣
Andy **********
@John *********
Yeah, Mr Machete dispensed justice when I lived in Buriram and the feral population stopped coming into my garden.
Leo ******
Think I paid
*****
0 bath in samui to do the same! 5 shots in a month!
Shaun *********
@Leo *****
you were ripped off cost me 4000b in Jomtien
Leo ******
@Shaun ********
I didn´t pay anything! My insurance company made the deal!
John *********
Ivan ************
@L**
that's insane, it cost me 353B/shot. You'd need immunoglobulin as well if you weren't previously vaccinated and it is a bit more expensive but you'd be talking a few thousand total all-in.
Benyathip **********
Todd *********
@Leo *****
cost me less than 25k on samui for emergency visit, and full rabies series
Benyathip **********
@Todd ********
sounds more than a small scratch or bite :( I meant 4k for the treatment shots but if worse of course would be more 🙏
Leo ******
Almost healed!
Leo ******
@Todd ********
Tell their hospital that! My X-wife told me they did stuff that had nothing to do with my bite! They carved away the meat around the wound, and filled it with band aid!
Benyathip **********
@Todd ********
4k in Trang 😀
Todd *********
@Benyathip *********
I can totally understand pricing differences. And sadly, I’m the white farang lol. I had to get sewn up with some sutures initially and then bandage changes etc. And the 5 shot rabies series. I used the public hospital at Na Thon, but I felt overall treatment was very good. I may be overstating the costs but certainly no worse than that
Benyathip **********
Paul ******
@Benyathip *********
I had rabies shots at Bumrumgrad after getting bit by a rat back in 94. Cost 2,500 baht or so
Leo ******
@Benyathip *********
Yes, when they saw my insurance they did all the shit they could! First they made a call to my insurancce company...
Benyathip **********
@Leo *****
any smart insurance company would refuse to pay and then find you an alternative place for around the real cost. Local Thais would pay around 4k thb :(
Leo ******
@Benyathip *********
Think they just cried and payd? It´s hard to know what to do when they don´t know anything about the island. We where in Koh Tao when it happend and that small "hospital" told us to go to Samui within 24 hours or...
Alan *********
The dog ok ?
Mike ******
@Alan ********
seeing his rage comments on your comment makes me think he has rabies now
Alan *********
@Mike *****
I think you could be right 😆
Rei ***********
@Alan ********
they took the dog to er and had anti rabies shots
Alan *********
@Rei **********
the poor dog 🐕 🤣
LS *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
FUCKING POS!!
LS *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alan ********
FUCK YOU JACK OFF
Mike ******
I think you confuse your diary 📔 with a Visa Advice Facebook group.
LS *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
LOL. Always a critic in every crowd. Perhaps someone should change the name of the forum? I just want people aware of the dangers. This dog lunged at me while I was riding my motorcycle down the street.
Kool *******
@LS ****
what street? Where were you? You want to make people aware then provide the details instead of just bragging about it.
Marc ********
LS Ott LS Ott Always somebody not understanding sarcasm in every crowd.
Todd *********
LS Ott The only dangers are idiots on the streets. Dogs smell fear. You got owned. It will happen again if you don’t adjust
Paul *******
@Todd ********
totally wrong I got bitten just walking down a Soi.

I have and still have been involved with working dogs all my life and still do help with dogs in Thailand.

Some times it’s the dog.
Alan *********
@LS ****
probably just a love bite 🤣
Brandon ************
Better safe than sorry
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