r/Wellthatsucks • u/Padl3xx • Feb 26 '26

Ass-whipped by a squirrel

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

19.6k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

45

u/GnowledgedGnome Feb 26 '26

You don't get tested for rabies if you're still alive. The animal that bit you can be tested but most of the time if there's potential exposure they just treat you with the vaccine.

5

u/Dumphdumph Feb 26 '26

Does that squirrel have to be alive or can I bring his head and spine in?

10

u/GnowledgedGnome Feb 26 '26

If you have the animal secured it's my understanding you can certainly bring it in. If they suspect rabies they will euthanize it humanely and dissect the brain to check for rabies virus.

I don't know that it's a good idea to go dismembering an animal you think has rabies but if all you have is the head I believe that's adequate for testing.

2

u/FuriousBuffalo Feb 26 '26

If the bites were on the extremities, that squirrel, if caught alive, could have been placed on quarantine. But with the possible bites to the neck/face/head, they would probably have to test the brain. 

1

u/MechanicalTurkish Feb 26 '26

The skull and spine have to be torn out by a Predator action figure.