Rabies

If you see an animal that you think may have rabies, contact your local animal control office. You can avoid the risk of rabies and animal bites or scratches by following these tips: 

• Be aware of the presence of unfamiliar or wild animals in your neighbourhood 
• Review the warning signs of rabies in wild animals and pets 
• Have your pets vaccinated for rabies; it is the law in Ontario that all cats, dogs and ferrets over 3 months of age are vaccinated for rabies. Public Health Inspectors review vaccination certificates when cases of pets biting people are reported to the health unit.
  • Low-cost rabies vaccination clinics are held in Huron Perth several times a year. Please visit the Stratford Perth Humane Society webpage for more information. Blyth Veterinary Services also hosts low-cost rabies vaccination clinics in partnership with HPPH. Follow HPPH on Facebook or X for clinic announcements. 
• Walk your pets on a leash and keep them inside at night
• Don't feed or touch wild, stray or unknown animals
• Don't leave food out
• Avoid animals that appear sick or are acting strange
• Don't trap wild animals
• Don't keep wild animals as pets
• Bat-proof your home and cottage 

For individuals who were not previously immunized against rabies: 

• Physicians can request rabies post-exposure prophylaxis from HPPH 
• For immunocompetent patients, treatment involves administration of immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine over a 14-day period 
• For immunocompromised patients or those taking antimalarials, an additional fifth dose of vaccine is given and antibody titres should be determined 7 to 14 days after completing the series 

For individuals previously immunized against rabies: 

• Administer two doses of rabies vaccine on day 0 and day 3 
• Do not administer immune globulin 

Please remember to double check the guidance documents sent to you from HPPH along with your rabies vaccine and immune globulin. Alternatively, call the Health Unit before you start your patient on immune globulin and/or vaccine to confirm dosing amounts and to help avoid any errors.