A woman bitten by a raccoon she was trying to help has to undergo painful rabies treatment because tests for animals aren't currently available in London.

Michelle Gatt has small scars left on her arms and neck from a wild raccoon she found on the weekend.

"He wasn't foaming at the mouth, he didn't look like he had anything wrong with him, I assumed he was a baby."

Gatt was jogging in Springbank Park when the raccoon approached, even climbing into her lap.

Believing it needed help, Gatt made several calls and was able to get her veterinarian, Dr. Kyla Dillard from the Dillard Animal Hospital to meet her with a cat crate.

But as she waited she was bitten by the raccoon, "He bit me only very mildly. It's wasn't like he tore a finger off, my cat has done worse to me."

Dillard took the raccoon back to the clinic but not long after it started having seizures, so it had to be put down.

She then wanted to get the raccoon tested for rabies, but found out that testing in London has been temporarily suspended while the province takes over what was a federal responsibility.

"The lab exists, the raccoon brain is here, the test could be done. If the test is negative, which is far the most likely thing, [Gatt] would not have to have post-rabies anitbodies injected in her body.'

Dillard believes the raccoon likely had a very common virus called canine distemper - which causes raccoons to be out in broad daylight and very friendly towards humans. But with no way to confirm it, Gatt must undergo the treatment.

"You don't know what's going into your body and...if I don't know for sure if I have rabies, I would rather not be treated for it," Gatt says.

Since rabies can be fatal for humans, Gatt is getting the first of four shots Tuesday.

But Dillard is still trying to see if a lab in Guelph can do the rabies testing, hoping to save Gatt some of the additional treatment.

As for Gatt, she says "My recommendation if you see wild animals - call the professionals."