I need some advice from anyone who knows the definitive place to go for rabies shots. I can't seem to get any straight talk from anyone around Atlanta so far. Best I've got so far is go to the ER, but I'm a little reluctant to drop my $250 ER copay (times 3 of us perhaps) on something that would be an abundance of caution since there is no confirmed contact.

Had an incident on Thursday with a bat in my house... I helped it out a window and then ended up reading all this really lovely stuff on the net about "bat in house protocol" which includes killing the sucker to have it tested for rabies. Seems bats are the main instigators of rabies in humans. While they are not the most proliferated carriers of the disease (that belongs to raccoons), their bites often go unnoticed in that that may not be felt or leave a mark. So, when the unusual circumstance of a bat in a house occurs, the protocol is to get rabies shots if the bat was in the house overnite (if you don't have the dead bat to test). Now, based on what I've been able to gather - with the help of urban wildlife control - I think its highly likely that I discovered the bat when it entered my bedroom through the wall (floorboard or something), and therefore highly unlikely that the bat was in the house overnite. However, I can't rule it out.

Anybody had to go through anything somewhat similar and have any experience to share?

Your primary care physician would be a good place to start. If you don't have one, see if there is a "county health officer" for your area. Try contacting the SPCA or the Humane Society in your area for protocol info. You could also inquire where the vet-techs get their shots - many of them get shots prophyllactically, as they do sometimes get bitten by some of the dogs/cats/etc. with which they work.

All Special Operation soldiers have recieved the Rabies series for years. It is just three simple injections in the arm on day 0, 7, and 28 IIRC. There should be a county health department in your area that is the designated "travel" clinic. Find it and ask to talk to the RN that runs it, not some receptionist. Also, for insurance to pay, an MD will need to order it.

About 25 years ago, I lived temporarily in the loft of an A-frame house. Five or six nights a week I'd wake up with a bat or two or three flopping around in the loft. (First time I heard them, I hoped it was a nightmare!)

The first night I pulled the covers over my head and hid for an hour before I got enough courage to claim my space back. I think I swatted with a towel.

The next night (and the rest of the winter) I was prepared... slept with a badminton racket... bat-minton racket!:D by the bunk. I'd whap them hard, then go down and scoop them off the floor with the racket before they regained consciouness, and toss them outside. They were always gone in the morning. My best night I think I re-located seven.

I don't think I could sleep through a bat bite... or a mouse nibbling on me... just sayin' If I was awake, I think I'd know if I got bit.

Call your public health department, and ask. Their shots may be cheaper if you go that route.

I think my only long term complication with bats in the belfry was the nightmares:eek: Its funny how now, this many years away, I only have fond memories of that winter, and smile as I type this!:D

Your primary care physician would be a good place to start.

This is correct. Bottom line: You do not want rabies shots, unless you have been bitten by an animal that might have rabies. Here's a good primer on Post-Exposure treatment:

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rabies-treatment-overview

It's doubtful that any physician would give you rabies shots as you relate your story because there are potential side effects that would not necessarily be worth the risk since you do not report actually having been bitten.

But, like this poster said, start with your Primary Care Physician.

I have opened the doors and let them find their way out.

I have also untangled them from mini blind cords wearing heavy leather gloves.

You need to find the entry point. I had enough of a gap around the fireplace damper. I also had an old window with a loose screen. They/it pushed the whole screen panel in, and crawled in. You would think that the bat boxes I put up would be good enough, but no, they like heat, too.

It took several visits to track these down. True pain in the backside.

Time factor involved with rabies.

We had oodles of bats roosting in vents in the gables of our garage, and of the house. My husband cleaned those out and rebuilt, without getting rabies shots. He dealt with the bats several years ago and he's no crazier than usual.

Ditto on the bat boxes. He built some, and tried to lure the bats out. Didn't work. He had to wait until they left of their own volition, when the weather got cold.

As others have said, if you're that concerned, you should discuss this with your physician.

This is correct. Bottom line: You do not want rabies shots, unless you have been bitten by an animal that might have rabies. Here's a good primer on Post-Exposure treatment:

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rabies-treatment-overview

It's doubtful that any physician would give you rabies shots as you relate your story because there are potential side effects that would not necessarily be worth the risk since you do not report actually having been bitten.

But, like this poster said, start with your Primary Care Physician.

This is my problem... try to talk to PCP through nurse, get referred to another doc whom I end up speaking with nurse and get same info I got from public health dept (I can talk to doc if I make appt). Health dept is dispensing protocol that says if you can't rule out bite, then get shots. I wanted doctor input, but it appears I'm unlikely to get any except if I go to an ER.

Based on my reading so far, looks like the shots aren't too bad and I should just get them as an abundance of caution. Have tried all suggestions except vet, which I think I'll call today for their input.

If you have any more info regarding risk of taking the shots, please let me know. So far, all I can see is about the same with most any vaccine.

one time I was living in a rental house with ... get this ... a FAKE fireplace and a bat was in it, lol. No joke. I began with the police ... I don't drink or do drugs but there is a bat in my fake fireplace. Someone actually showed up, lol. Then the police said "how do I get it" .. I said .. that's why I called you. I'd already blocked it in with cardboard and a fireplace screen (used for looks only) .. it was tiny but gosh the claws were LONG. I had the idea of a shoe box and cardboard to capture and let it out as I was only worried about my dog. The police finally put thick gloves on and just grabbed it ... my basement had a real fireplace and over the years of this rental that fireplace cap on the roof can off and water got in and deteoriated the mortor so that's how it made it way into the fake insert upstairs. That was a funny phone call though.

I believe those clinics that are sort of here and there may have those, or the "health department" for your actual question though ... and way cheaper than a hospital!

Do make sure and sort this out, whatever the cost. If you get rabies, you die.

I live not too far from you, and you kinda got me interested. There are a ton of bats near me. I think they have the neighbor's attic pretty well claimed. You probably already figured out that dekalb county animal services website with the rabies stats for our area is down, but I did find an article where they found a rabid raccoon in decatur last year! I dunno man... Whatever you do make sure that you get up in your attic during the daytime and figure outwhere the hole is by looking for daylight.

Missouri had its first rabies death since the 1950's this fall when a bat brushed a man in Texas county. He did not know he was bitten until it was too late. All his family and friends got the shots because they had contact with him, used the same dishes, etc. They are all fine. A big precaution, but worth it.
The health department should be up on these incidents and treat brushes as bites. Healthy bats do not make voluntary brushes with humans or anything else because of their incredible radar type system. There are some city parks where brushed by bats people are immediately given the rabies treatments.
If you have a dead one, store it in the frige and not the freezer. I learned this when an indoor cat killed one in my house a few years ago when I was out of town. I got home and found a dead bat. The cat had had a good time playing cat toy with it. Oh, heck. Called the vet. Bat tested asap and not rabid.
One reason now my only indoor ever cat gets a rabies shot. You just never know.

Missouri had its first rabies death since the 1950's this fall when a bat brushed a man in Texas county. He did not know he was bitten until it was too late. All his family and friends got the shots because they had contact with him, used the same dishes, etc. They are all fine. A big precaution, but worth it.
The health department should be up on these incidents and treat brushes as bites. Healthy bats do not make voluntary brushes with humans or anything else because of their incredible radar type system. There are some city parks where brushed by bats people are immediately given the rabies treatments.
If you have a dead one, store it in the frige and not the freezer. I learned this when an indoor cat killed one in my house a few years ago when I was out of town. I got home and found a dead bat. The cat had had a good time playing cat toy with it. Oh, heck. Called the vet. Bat tested asap and not rabid.
One reason now my only indoor ever cat gets a rabies shot. You just never know.
Bats are scarey,play it safe.
My INDOOR cat had one too,she is now vaccinated. Never thought that would happen... playing it safe.

I just killed one last week... middle of winter here. They scare me sh**less.

Bats are very cool animals. I like bats. But I treat them all as if they carried rabies. Same with skunks.

Feral Bill said it best!

I manage a large FedEx facility in NW Florida. Every year, I have to send drivers to the ER to get rabbies and other antibiotic shots due to some frothing at the mouth little ankle-biter dogs protecting their domain. The bill from the most recent round of shots was $3995.00 I just about dropped a load in my drawers before I stamped and signed it for payment. Sheesh. I figure better safe than sorry. Rabbies is some scary stuff.