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Rabies Immunization for Dogs

by Anna Borenstein

Copyright March, 2009 -

The Law in Ontario

Many dog owners in Ontario are uncertain about what the law in this province actually states with respect to rabies immunization for dogs. The purpose of this article is to help dispel some of that confusion.

Rabies immunization for companion animals in Ontario is governed by the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 567, Rabies Immunization. The regulation in its entirety can be accessed online at:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900567_e.htm
or
http://www.canlii.org/on/laws/regu/1990r.567/20080215/whole.html

In brief, the law states that a dog 3 months of age or over must be immunized against rabies, and then reimmunized (i.e. given a booster) by the date specified in the immunization certificate that is issued at the time the vaccine is administered.

Currently, standard veterinary practice is to immunize (vaccinate) a dog against rabies for the first time at 3 months of age, then revaccinate yearly after that. Most people are under the impression that yearly revaccination against rabies is the law in Ontario, but this is not true. While most companion animal practices in Ontario are using a three year rabies vaccine, many are administering it on a yearly basis. Yearly revaccination against rabies is only required by law if a one year rabies vaccination is used which, by and large, is not the case.

The following vaccines are currently licensed for use in Canada*:

*As provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in their List of Veterinary Biological Products Licensed in Canada.

If your dog was vaccinated against rabies in Ontario in the last two years, chances are that a 3 year rabies vaccine was administered – in this case, the dog does not have to be vaccinated again this year or the next (depending on the actual date of vaccination). As a matter of fact, the law states that the vaccine should be “administered in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer who produced the vaccine”. Manufacturer instructions include a recommended revaccination schedule (as indicated in the table above).

Check your rabies vaccination certificate to find out which vaccine was administered – the law states that “the name and code of the vaccine” must be specified. If the revaccination date on the certificate is not in accordance with the revaccination schedule recommended by the manufacturer, ask your vet to issue a new certificate with the correct revaccination date. If you can’t find the certificate, ask your vet to check his/her records to find out when your dog was vaccinated and which vaccine was administered, and request a copy of the certificate with an appropriate revaccination date.

Other standard vaccinations, such as those for distemper and parvovirus, are not required by law in Ontario. Having these vaccines administered to your dog is a personal decision, and one best made by educating yourself on the associated benefits and risks. Be aware, however, that some veterinarians may choose not to treat animals that do not receive these vaccinations on a yearly basis.

It is also important to note that the instructions provided by manufacturers of vaccines usually include the caveat that only healthy animals should be immunized. Ontario Regulation 567 allows a rabies vaccination waiver to be granted to dogs that are not healthy.  It states:

8. (1) The owner or person having the care and custody of an animal that is in or has a physical condition that precludes the safe immunization or reimmunization of the animal against rabies is exempt from the requirement of this Regulation where,

(a) statement of exemption is issued by a veterinarian with respect to the animal that sets out the reason why the animal cannot be immunized or reimmunized; and

(b) the animal is controlled in such a manner as to preclude its being exposed to rabies.

2. An owner or person referred to in subsection (1) continues to be exempt from the requirements of this Regulation so long as the animal cannot be immunized or reimmunized.
If your dog has any serious or chronic disease, any vaccination could further compromise his or her condition. Talk to you vet about these risks and, if it is appropriate, ask for a waiver.

Copyright Anna Borenstein, 2008. All rights reserved.