I would find a new vet. We have a lot of groundhogs around here. I had a feral cat, my mush, that loved to hunt and kill everything. He would even go down the groundhog holes. He tangled with one. Killed it but got hurt so I took him to the vet. The vet told me that they can carry rabies. I was glad brownie had his shots. He was treated and was ok

I would find a new vet ground hogs do carry rabies. I have seen it.

I agree with everyone who says to find a new vet. Here is a news story about a small child that was bitten by a rabid groundhog and had to go through treatment for rabies:

Rabid groundhog bites Pikesville boy Mother says 'it was horrendous' BALTIMORE COUNTY - Baltimore Sun

I agree with the others, take him to another VET!! That is just disturbing your vet would not tell you to come in????

Please take him into another Vet that will treat him.. he needs the correct medicine for this.. Also your poor dog is probably in pain, I would imaging a bite from one of those suckers hurts!!

Groundhogs can to have rabies. Also the saliva from a bite can cause infections. Time for another vet

No, the pup is doing fine, eating, fighting with the Jack and the wound is closing. Vet just said to monitor it. If not he will give me antibiotics to give her but she seems fine. I don't like rushing to the vet unless I see it's an emergency.

I prefer to vet first when there is any problem as it can save the dog needless suffering and sometimes far less intensity of treatment to get to a problem very early. Getting to the vet early can often prevent the need to rush to one in an emergency. I imagine it really hurt to have a bite in the roof of his mouth and he needed something for pain to try to be comfortable. It's likely still sore. Plus, don't puncture wounds such as bites carry the bacteria directly into the bloodstream and aren't antibiotics in order, maybe even a baseline bloodtest in case he spikes a fever a week or two from now?

Bitten by a wild rodent -- I sure wouldn't "watch for" the abscess. Would mean a great deal more treatment!

I feel so bad for this pup.i would take my child to doctors why wouldn't you with your pup hmmmmm.

Boy, if I got bitten in the roof of my mouth, I'd be at the Emergency Room whining for pain Rx and treatment! I would do no less for Tibbe.

Please reconsider vet treatment, at a different and more knowledgeable vet:( By the time you might spot a problem with that wound, it could have by then become very severe, and possibly fatal, that close to the brain. IMHO, antibiotics should be given preventatively, not AFTER an infection develops. Please think about your little one possibly being in pain and suffering even more pain if that becomes infected.

Maine 05/01/12 Bath, Sagadahoc County: A deadly altercation between a terrier and a woodchuck on Saturday was confirmed as the city’s first case of rabies this year, according to the Bath Police Department. According to the Maine Centers for Disease Control, there has been an uptick of reported rabies cases in 2012, which State Epidemiologist Stephen Sears attributes to a warm winter that caused more animals to be more active earlier. A resident of High Street in the Bath’s north end reported the family dog attacked and killed a woodchuck that had entered the yard. The woodchuck had not been seen acting strangely, which is a sign an animal might be affected with rabies, but based on the owner’s statement that it is unusual for the dog to kill animals, Bath Animal Control Officer Ann Harford decided to have the dead woodchuck tested. The woodchuck was taken to the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Lab, where it tested positive for rabies. The dog’s rabies vaccination was current but it will receive a rabies booster and will be kept under observation for 45 days, according to Bath Police Chief Michael Field. Field urged residents to keep their pets’ vaccinations current and to use extreme caution when handling a pet that was wounded in a fight with a wild animal, including the use of waterproof gloves while washing or caring for the animal. – See Rabies case confirmed after terrier kills woodchuck in Bath — Midcoast — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine

Key facts

Rabies travels from the brain to the salivary glands during the final stage of the disease—this is when an animal can spread the disease, most commonly through a bite.
Rabies can’t go through unbroken skin. People can get rabies only via a bite from a rabid animal or possibly through scratches, abrasions, open wounds, or mucous membranes in contact with saliva or brain tissue from a rabid animal.
The rabies virus is short-lived when exposed to open air—it can only survive in saliva and dies when the animal’s saliva dries up.
If you handle a pet who has been in a fight with a potentially rabid animal, take precautions such as wearing gloves to keep any still-fresh saliva from getting into an open wound.
Understanding Rabies : The Humane Society of the United States


What happens when a dog gets bitten by a woodchuck? - Yahoo! Answers

First of all I've had dogs all my life, and treated them myself, including IV's. I have always been extremely hands on. I just posted to get some insight, this hasn't been the first time that one of my dogs has gotten bitten. I have been with my vet for over 15 years and he knows that my diagnosis are on point. There are tell tale signs if the injury requires immediate attention. So your comment of no common sense is unwarranted. To err on caution I will have him checked out. But I trust my vet and he knows how I am.

Glad to hear your are going to get your dog checked out-

I'm glad to hear that you are taking him in. It doesn't hurt to have the vet look at him... I would think a puncture wound would be very painful :(