After a dog bites a person, health officials usually order a 10-day quarantine. Many owners panic: will the dog be taken away, will it be put down, who pays? This guide explains how the dog bite 10-day quarantine works, why it lasts 10 days, where it can take place, and what happens at the end.
Why Does a Dog Bite Quarantine Last 10 Days?
Rabies can only spread through a bite when the virus is in the animal’s saliva. In dogs, cats, and ferrets this happens during the illness and only for a few days before symptoms appear. That is why the CDC recommends that a healthy dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person be confined and observed daily for 10 days.
If the dog is still healthy after 10 days, it could not have had rabies virus in its saliva when it bit, so the person bitten is not considered exposed to rabies. If the dog shows signs of rabies during the observation, it is tested and the bitten person can receive treatment in time.
How the 10-Day Quarantine Works
1. The bite is reported
The bite is reported to animal control or the local health department, often by the doctor or hospital that treated the person.
2. A quarantine is ordered
An officer orders the dog confined for 10 days from the date of the bite. In many states this applies even if the dog is vaccinated.
3. The dog is observed
The dog is kept away from other people and animals and watched daily for signs of illness. It should not get a rabies shot during the observation.
4. The quarantine ends
At the end of the 10 days, an officer or vet checks that the dog is healthy. If it is, the quarantine ends and the dog returns to normal life.
Where Does the Quarantine Take Place?
It depends on your state, your city, and your dog’s rabies vaccination. Common options are:
Examples of state rules: North Carolina requires every dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person to be confined for 10 days in a place chosen by the local health director, whatever its vaccination status (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-196). Wisconsin law also requires a 10-day quarantine for any dog or cat that bites a person. Always follow the instructions of your local animal control office.
Who Pays for the Quarantine?
The dog owner pays for the quarantine. This is the rule in most cities and counties, and many local laws say so explicitly:
Dubuque, Iowa
A dog or cat that bites a person may be observed for rabies at a licensed vet for 10 days, and the owner pays the cost of the observation.
Northeast Colorado
Any dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person must be confined and observed for 10 days at the owner’s or keeper’s expense.
How much it costs depends on where the dog stays. A home quarantine usually costs little or nothing beyond the final health check. A 10-day stay at a vet, shelter, or kennel means paying for boarding and the vet’s checks, which can add up to a much higher bill. Fees are set locally, so ask your animal control office and your vet for the exact amounts before choosing.
Quarantine fees are an owner expense and are separate from the damages the injured person can claim.
If the bite leads to a claim, quarantine costs are separate from the injured person’s damages. To see how a dog bite claim is valued, you can use our Dog Bite Settlement Calculator.
Rules to Follow During the Quarantine
Keep the dog confined
No walks in public places, dog parks, or visits, unless officials say otherwise. Keep the dog away from other people and pets.
Don’t give a rabies shot
Health guidance advises against vaccinating the dog during observation, because vaccine reactions could be confused with rabies signs.
Report any change
If the dog gets sick, changes behavior, or dies, contact animal control or your vet immediately.
Don’t move or give away the dog
The dog must be available for the final check. Moving it or giving it away can lead to fines or seizure.
Will My Dog Be Put Down After a Bite?
Usually not. A healthy dog that bites is observed, not euthanized. North Carolina’s health guidance, for example, states that dogs, cats, and ferrets that show no signs of rabies and bite people should be confined and observed for 10 days instead of being euthanized.
Euthanasia is generally reserved for animals that develop signs of rabies during observation, and for dogs a court or local authority declares dangerous after a hearing, usually following serious or repeated attacks. If your dog bit someone, read our guide on what to do next.
FAQ: Dog Bite 10-Day Quarantine
What is the 10-day rule for dog bites?
A dog that bites a person is confined and observed for 10 days to rule out rabies.
If the dog stays healthy for 10 days, it could not have passed rabies at the time of the bite. This rule is recommended by the CDC and required by law in many states.
Does a vaccinated dog need to be quarantined after a bite?
Often yes, although vaccinated dogs are more likely to stay at home.
In states such as North Carolina, every dog that bites a person must be confined for 10 days regardless of vaccination status. Vaccination usually makes home quarantine easier to obtain.
Can my dog do the quarantine at home?
Often yes, if local officials approve and the dog can be safely isolated.
Unvaccinated dogs, or dogs that cannot be kept away from people and pets, may have to stay at a vet, shelter, or kennel. Ask your animal control office.
Who pays for a dog bite quarantine?
The dog owner pays.
Many local laws say so explicitly, for example in Dubuque, Iowa, and northeast Colorado. Home quarantine usually costs little; a 10-day stay at a vet or kennel costs much more. Ask your animal control office for local fees.
What happens if my dog gets sick during the quarantine?
Contact animal control or your vet immediately.
If the dog shows signs of rabies, it is examined and may be tested, and the bitten person can receive rabies treatment in time. Most dogs, however, finish the 10 days healthy.
Sources: CDC rabies guidance for dogs, cats, and ferrets that bite people; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-196 and North Carolina Division of Public Health rabies guidance; Wisconsin DATCP rabies quarantine guidance; Maryland Department of Health rabies guidance; City of Dubuque, Iowa, animal bite rules; Northeast Colorado Health Department confinement rules.
