Rabies is a fatal disease spread by the saliva droplets of an infected animal, often from bites or scratches. Rabies can also be transmitted through an open cut, mouth, nose, or eyes.
If any animal bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water immediately for at least 15 minutes and get medical attention right away. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in both animals and humans.
Report any rabies incident to GEPH and our public health inspectors will investigate the exposure. If you were in contact with an animal that has died, we will arrange the removal and testing of the animal. We will also advise you on steps moving forward, including treatment and prevention.
Contact us
- Brantford-Brant: 519-753-4937 ext. 6470 or Fax 519-753-2140
- Haldimand-Norfolk: 519-900-9600 ext. 3477 or Fax 519-427-5907
- Fill out our rabies investigation form
If you are calling after hours or during the weekend, please stay on the line to be transferred to our on-call answering service.
Rabies can be carried in all warm-blooded animals. However, it is most commonly found in:
- Raccoons
- Foxes
- Skunks
- Bats
- Cats
- Dogs
- Cattle
- Coyotes
Please note: rabid animals may appear asymptomatic.
Rabid animals may act very strangely from normal behaviour:
- Trouble walking
- Unusual facial expressions
- Difficulty swallowing (drooling)
- Wild animals may become unusually friendly and unafraid
- Nocturnal animals become active during the day
- Domestic pets may withdraw or hide
- Aggressive or violent behaviour
- Uncontrollable tremors or shaking
While the risk of encountering an animal infected with rabies is low in Ontario, the following steps must be taken to reduce the spread of the virus:
- Stay away from unfamiliar animals.
- Supervise children when they are around animals.
- Keep your pets and livestock rabies vaccinations up to date. It’s the law.
- Do not let your pets roam free.
- Keep pets away from wildlife.
- Feed your pets indoors.
- Report all incidents where rabies may have been transmitted.
- Report all potentially rabid animals.
If you think your pet or livestock has been in contact with a rabid or dead animal, contact your veterinarian.
If you suspect an animal is rabid, and it has not been in direct contact with anyone, please report the animal to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Rabies Hotline: 1-888-574-6656.
To report stray dogs or sick and injured cats in Brantford, call the Brant County SPCA at 519-756-6620. For animals in the County of Brant, call Hillside Kennels Animal Control at 1-888-469-3247 or 519-469-3247.
For humans
- Wash the wound with soap and water.
- Get medical attention right away (if left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal).
- Report the incident to GEPH.
Treatment may include the rabies vaccination. If the animal is known and not stray or wild, GEPH will likely not recommend vaccination. The animal owner will be requested to keep the animal confined at home or at the SPCA for 10 days to ensure the animal is not infected.
If the rabies vaccination is recommended, GEPH will advise you to consult with your healthcare provider. Treatment will involve four vaccination visits to your healthcare provider. GEPH does not administer the rabies vaccine.
If you have been vaccinated against rabies before, you should still contact your healthcare provider.
Please note: Preventative vaccination for rabies is only recommended for people at high-risk of close contact with rabies animals or those who could have potentially had contact with saliva or mucous of an infected human. It is not recommended for the general population.
For pets
By law, all dogs and cats three months of age and older must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination status. Failure to provide this can result in legal action including ticketing or appearing in court. Consult your veterinarian about your pets’ vaccine status.
For wildlife
Each year, the Government of Ontario controls rabies in wildlife by dropping baits that contain the vaccine in urban, forested, and rural agricultural areas, including the Grand Erie region.
If your livestock or pet eats a bait packet, they may get an upset stomach. If they eat more than one bait packet, call your veterinarian.
To learn more about the Wildlife Vaccine Baiting Program, visit Ontario.ca – Rabies in Wildlife.
There are many Acts, Regulations, and by-laws to help control rabies and support rabies investigations.
In Ontario, these include:
- Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 567 Rabies Immunization
- Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 557 Communicable Diseases – General
- Rabies (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
- Rabies (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians)
- Rabies Public Portal (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians)
- Rabies Vaccine Clinics (Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians)
- Rabies Prevention and Control Protocol 2023 (ontario.ca)
- Ontario.ca – Rabies in Wildlife