Animal Bites and Rabies

Rabies is a fatal disease that humans can get through bites and/or scratches of infected animals (mammals). In Ontario, wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes are at risk for rabies. Sometimes pets, like dogs and cats, can also get rabies if they haven’t had their shots. Protecting yourself and your pets from rabies is important to staying safe from the deadly disease.

How does Southwestern Public Health keep me informed about rabies risks?

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) helps keep our community safe from rabies by:

• Investigating and monitoring all human-animal bites and scratches that are reported to us
• Sharing helpful resources with healthcare providers
• Keeping the public updated if a rabid animal is found in the area

What are the symptoms of an animal having rabies?

Animals with rabies may act strangely, which can help you recognize a potential risk. 

Domestic animals (i.e., cats and dogs), may show unusual behaviour for them, which can include:

• Not eating, drinking, or are having trouble swallowing
• Signs of weakness like a drooping head, weak legs, or sagging jaw
• Excessive drooling
• Attacking objects, humans, or other animals
• Chewing and biting their own limbs
• Sudden mood changes 

Wild animals may:

• Lose their fear of humans
• Come out during the day when they are normally only seen at night

Rabies can be found in the saliva of an animal days before they show any signs or symptoms. However, all animals that have rabies will eventually show signs and die.

What are the symptoms of rabies in people?

Rabies is a treatable disease as long as treatment starts before symptoms occur. Once symptoms occur in humans, the rabies virus is fatal. That's why it is important that anyone who has been bit or scratched by a potentially infected animal reach out to Southwestern Public Health and their health care provider for assistance.

What do I do if an animal bites or scratches me?

If an animal bites or scratches you:

1. Clean the wound with soap and water
2. Get medical help by contacting your doctor or visit a local hospital
3. Report the exposure (Doctors, nurses, or animal workers are also required to report any bites or scratches seen)

Note: Just because an animal bites or scratches you doesn’t mean it has rabies. The animal involved is not in trouble, we just need to monitor the animal with help from their owner for signs and symptoms of rabies.

What happens after an animal bite is reported?

Once an animal bite is reported, SWPH will reach out to you within one business day. Here’s what you can expect:

• If the animal involved is a pet: We will contact the pet’s owner. The pet will stay with their owner to be monitored for signs of rabies for ten days. If the animal is alive and healthy after the ten days, it did not have rabies at the time of the bite. The bite victim will not need to received rabies treatment.
  
  
• If the animal is stray or wild: We will perform a risk assessment regarding the exposure. If the animal involved cannot be located, rabies treatment may be required.

If you do not hear from SWPH within one business day after reporting the bite, or you have questions about a potential exposure, please call us at 1-800-922-0096.

How can I protect myself and pets from rabies?

• Vaccinate pets against rabies
• All cats, dogs, ferrets, and animals that the public might come in contact with (e.g., petting zoo animals) must be vaccinated against rabies. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date
• Keep pets indoors at night
• Speak with your vet if you see any unexplained wounds on your pet, or if you pet is bit or scratched by another animal
• Keep a safe distance from unfamiliar animals, especially stray or wild ones
• Supervise children around animals and teach them safe behaviour
• Do not attempt to feed or touch wild or sick animals
• Do not approach animals behaving oddly or aggressively
• Report any strange behaviour in animals, like aggression or lethargy, to local animal control
• Be familiar with the signs of rabies in your pets and wild animals

Additional resources for rabies:

• Learn more about Rabies in Ontario and how the Government of Ontario manages wildlife rabies outbreaks
• Download the Rabies Prevention and Control Protocol (2023), published by the Ontario Ministry of Health
• Access the Rabies Response Program by the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT) for resources on protecting your animals

Need help? Contact us

If you have questions about animal bites and rabies or need help, feel free to contact SWPH’s Environmental Health team at 1-800-922-0096.