Rabies Resources
Rabies resources
Rabies can be prevented with vaccination. In cases of human exposure, if a vaccine is given before symptoms appear, the disease can be prevented from progressing.
In animals, routine preventative vaccinations for rabies can keep both your pet, family and community safe from rabies by providing immunity to the disease.
In Ontario, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 567, animal owners have a legal obligation to maintain rabies vaccinations for their animals. Dogs, cats and ferrets that are 12 weeks of age or older must be vaccinated. Livestock such as horse, cow, bull, steer, calf, sheep or other livestock are required to be vaccinated unless they only have contact with the people who have care and control of them. Vaccine boosters every one or three years (depending on manufacturers guidelines) are required to maintain immunity levels.
Want to help spread the word that rabies vaccination is important for animals? Here are some tools and tips to help:
- Print copies of the Rabies Activity Book so that you can share it with children in your community!
- Print/save a copy of the most recent 2023 MRNF Positive Rabies Cases in Ontario Map to post at your hospital/shelter or share on your social media!
- Visit our My Pets Protected Facebook page where rabies and rabies prevention information is shared. Don’t forget to like and share the posts too!
- Share a link to the OAVT Rabies Response Program’s Rabies Public Portal webpage www.mypetsprotected.org!
- Do you have a rabies vaccine clinic coming up in your area in Ontario? Email rrp@oavt.org with a digital poster of your event so that we can share the details on our Rabies Vaccine Clinics Listings- Ontario, Canada web page and Facebook page
Rabies Virus Technical Information
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Rabies Fact Sheet
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Rabies Cases in Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Rabies: information for veterinarians
- Ontario Ministry of Health: Rabies Prevention & Control Protocol
- Ontario Ministry of Health: Health Protection and Promotion Act
- Ontario Ministry of Health: Management of Potential Rabies Exposure Guidelines
- Government of Canada-Rabies Immunization Guide
- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: Rabies Guidance
- World Health Organization
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rabies
Pet Owner Information
- OAVT Rabies Public Portal
- Ontario Veterinary Medical Association: Pet’s and Vaccinations
- College of Veterinarians of Ontario: Legislative Overview- Rabies
- Worms and Germs Blog: Promoting safe pet ownership (search “Rabies)
- MNRF- Protect yourself and your pets poster
- MNRF-Protect yourself and your pets brochure
Rabies Prevention
- Doggone Safe: Dog Bite Prevention Through Education
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rabies Control and Prevention
- Global Alliance for Rabies Control