Rabies Control

How is rabies spread?

The rabies virus is spread by contact with saliva from an infected animal, generally from a bite or scratch. Rabies can also spread through saliva entering a person’s mouth, nose or eyes, or through an open cut or wound.

What are the symptoms of rabies in animals?

Animals can spread the disease before showing any signs. Animals with rabies infection can show different signs. Some animals may become easily frightened, unusually tame or violent and aggressive without reason. Rabid animals may show signs of partial paralysis of the hind limbs, foaming of the mouth or unusual behaviour including attacking objects and even fear of water. In bats, signs of rabies may include losing their ability to fly and crawling on the ground, out during daylight hours, or appearing disoriented.

If your pet has any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Do not approach wildlife or attempt to help a sick or injured animal. Contact your local animal control if you see a wild animal that may be showing signs of rabies.

Who is at higher risk of rabies exposure?

People at higher risk of rabies exposures include people who work with animals (dead or alive), hunters and trappers, and travelers to countries where rabies is more commonly found.

Children are considered at higher risk of rabies infection because they play with animals more often, are more likely to be bitten, and are less likely to report bites, scratches or licks.

Rabies status in Ontario

For more information on rabies positive animals detected in Ontario, visit the Ministry of Natural Resources website.

Rabies around the world

Rabies is a serious public health problem in over 150 countries and territories, mainly in Asia and Africa. Rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 human deaths annually. 

Dog rabies cases are commonly found in many countries around the world, especially in regions with limited rabies prevention efforts. Rabies cases among pets imported to Canada have been detected in recent years. Vaccinating new and current pets helps prevent the spread of rabies in Canada.

For more information, visit the World Health Organization’s page on rabies.

In Ontario, all cats, dogs, and ferrets must be vaccinated for rabies as soon as they turn three months old. Pets should be vaccinated against rabies again within one year of the initial vaccination, and then re-vaccinated every one to three years depending on the type of vaccine. Rabies vaccination for pets is also a licensing requirement in certain municipalities and may be required at kennels, animal shows, and fairs.

Besides the legal requirement to vaccinate, there are several reasons to vaccinate your pet against rabies:

• Rabies is a serious disease once contracted and can be spread to other animals and humans. Death usually occurs within 7 to 10 days after a pet shows signs of the disease. Rabies testing can only be done after a potentially infected animal dies or is euthanized
• Immunization with animal vaccines approved for use in Canada is highly effective at preventing rabies in pets. For fully vaccinated pets, veterinarian directions after a potential rabies exposure are often simpler and less restrictive compared to unvaccinated pets exposed to rabies.
• In Ontario, rabies cases occur in wildlife, most commonly in bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Although the number of pet rabies cases are low thanks to mandatory vaccination, rabies infections have been reported in household dogs and cats
• Dog rabies cases are commonly found in many countries around the world, especially in regions with limited rabies prevention efforts. In the United States, cats have become the most common domestic animal to have rabies. Rabies cases among pets imported to Canada have been detected in recent years. Vaccinating new and current pets helps prevent the spread of rabies in Canada

Indoor pets should still be vaccinated as they may encounter other rabies-carrying animals such as bats, raccoons, and skunks in your backyard, in a park or on a trail. They may also visit other animals with their owners, interact with visiting animals, or interact with animals at a kennel or groomer. In Ontario, the requirement to vaccinate against rabies applies to dogs, cats, and ferrets regardless if they are considered “indoor” or “outdoor” pets.

In Canada, all veterinary vaccines are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, a federal agency that safeguards animal health. Vaccines approved for use in Canada have been tested for efficacy and safety.

Minor symptoms may occur after rabies vaccination as the body is developing protection against the disease, such as local vaccine-site tenderness, and generalized signs including lethargy and mild fever. These signs will usually disappear in a day or two. Serious reactions such as severe allergic reactions are extremely rare.

The rabies vaccine cannot cause the disease.

Pet vaccinations are available at veterinary clinics. You can also visit york.ca/Rabies for information on upcoming low-cost rabies clinics available in York Region. The Ontario Association of Veterinarian Technicians also has a webpage with information on upcoming rabies clinics across Ontario.

If you have any questions about rabies vaccination for your pets, or if your pet had a potential rabies exposure, please discuss with a veterinarian.

Resources on pet rabies vaccination

• Government of Ontario – Rabies in pets
• Government of Ontario – Rabies cases
• Ontario Veterinary Medical Association – Pets and vaccinations: what you need to know
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association – Rabies the great pretender
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association – Vaccination of Animals
• American Veterinarian Medical Association – Rabies
• Ontario Animal Health Network – Rabies in Pet Video
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Rabies in Canada
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Bringing Animals into Canada

There are many ways to protect yourself and your family from rabies.

• Keep your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date. Under Ontario law, dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies
• If you have been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal wash the wound with soap and water and contact your doctor immediately
• Report all animal bites or scratches to York Region Public Health
• Teach your children to stay away from unfamiliar animals and to immediately tell an adult if they have been bitten or scratched
• Avoid feeding, handling or coming into contact with wild or unfamiliar animals
• Protect your pet from coming into contact with wild animals by keeping them on a leash when they are off your property
• Never touch a dead animal with your bare hands. If you must dispose of a dead animal, wear thick protective gloves and use a shovel
• Do not try to assist a sick or dying animal; call your local animal control agency to report a sick animal
• Take measures to keep wild animals away from your home and property
• If you are travelling abroad, avoid contact with wild animals and be especially careful around cats and dogs in developing countries

• Vaccination of pets is an important measure for rabies control and is very effective at protecting animals against rabies. In Ontario, it is mandatory that all cats, dogs, and ferrets (including indoor pets) are vaccinated for rabies as soon as they turn three months old
• Livestock (e.g., horses, cows, bulls, sheep) that come in contact with the public are also required to be vaccinated against rabies
• Speak to your vet on how often re-vaccination is required (depending on the type of vaccine)
• Some groomers, kennels and animal daycares require proof of rabies vaccination as well as some municipalities for licensing requirements
• Low-cost rabies clinics for dogs and cats can be found on the York Region Events Calendar or on the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians website

Bats are capable of transmitting the rabies virus. Bats in York Region have tested positive for rabies.

Inspect your home for possible entry points

• Entry points are often near the edge of the roof such as under the eaves, soffits or loose boards, openings in the roof or vents, or crevices around the chimney
• Bats can squeeze through very tiny spaces, some the size of a dime
• If you have a colony of bats in your home, never attempt to remove the colony yourself. Always hire a professional animal removal company

Bat proof your home

• Use window screens, chimney caps and draft guards beneath doors to attics, fill in electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking and ensure all doors to the outside close tightly

What to do if you find a bat in your home

• If the bat is alive and had direct contact with a person, or found in a room with a child or adult who cannot explain if they came in contact with a bat:
  • Attempt to confine it in a room and contact York Region Health Connection to have the bat trapped and submitted for rabies testing. Never attempt to catch the bat yourself
  • If the bat is dead, protect your children and pets by placing a box or container over the bat and contact York Region Health Connection to have the bat tested for rabies
• If there is no risk of exposure to either a person or animal:
  • If the bat is alive, attempt to confine the bat to one room, turn off the lights and open a window. The bat should fly out on its own
  • If the bat is dead, contact your local municipality for directions on how to dispose of the dead bat. Never touch the bat with your bare hands. If you need to move the bat wear heavy duty gloves and use tongs or a shovel