Can Sheep Carry Rabies?
Yes — sheep can get rabies, usually after a bite from a rabid wild animal. Because one rabid predator can bite several animals, outbreaks can affect multiple sheep at once. Sheep often show the paralytic form — weakness, drooling, and inability to stand — and a rabies vaccine is available (AVMA, CDC).
Sheep are spillover hosts where a single rabid predator can create a cluster of cases in a flock.
Key facts about sheep and rabies
- Sheep are infected by bites from rabid wildlife such as foxes, coyotes, or skunks.
- A single rabid predator entering a flock can bite several sheep, producing multiple cases at once.
- Sheep commonly show the paralytic form: weakness, drooling, recumbency, and inability to stand.
- A rabies vaccine is available and is worth discussing for flocks in active wildlife-rabies areas.
What to do after a sheep bite or exposure
- Wash any bite or saliva exposure with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
- If multiple sheep are affected, treat it as a possible rabid-predator incident and call public health and your vet.
- Isolate affected animals and avoid hands-on oral examination.
- Report suspected rabies to your state animal health authority.
Frequently asked questions
Can sheep get rabies?
Yes. Sheep are infected by bites from rabid wildlife, and because one predator can bite several animals, a flock can have multiple cases. Sheep usually become weak and drooling rather than aggressive. Wash any exposure and seek a risk assessment (AVMA, CDC).
Why do several sheep get rabies at once?
A single rabid predator — such as a fox or coyote — can bite multiple sheep in one attack, so cases often appear as a cluster in the same flock a few weeks later.
Related animals
See the full animal rabies overview.
Sources
This page is for general education and reflects current CDC and WHO rabies guidance. It does not replace urgent medical or veterinary advice. If you may have been exposed to rabies, seek medical care promptly.