Rattlesnake Bites
With warmer temperatures on the way to Grant County, the chances of your pet
meeting a rattlesnake increase.
The US has 16 different species of rattlesnakes. Most rattlesnakes are found in
the southwest but territories extend in every direction of the compass. Most
states have more than one variety of rattlesnake. The rattlesnake is found in
wetlands, deserts and forests from sea level to mountain.
Rattlesnakes serve a very important role in nature. They are among the most
highly specialized creatures on the planet. Rattlesnakes eat many of the smaller
animals, such as mice. Mice are responsible for crop damage and for spreading
many diseases such as the Hantavirus and the Plague.
Unlike common belief, rattlesnakes are NOT aggressive, malicious or evil. A
rattlesnake will only bite when threatened or to feed. Being smaller than most
everything except their chosen prey, they threaten easily. Given a chance, a
rattlesnake will leave a threatening situation as rapidly as possible. They do not
choose confrontation but, if they feel cornered, they will bite to protect
themselves. A larger animal or human are never considered prey, only threats.
Rattlesnakes annually bite 8,000 people, with 12-15 ending fatally. The number
of pets, especially dogs, bitten or killed each year is not known. Experts feel,
though, that the number is in the thousands.
What is rattlesnake venom? It is actually toxic saliva. It is composed of an array
of complex proteins. Venom contains more than one toxin that combine to be
more potent, in effect, than the effects of each individual toxin. Most toxic effects
are a result of the enzymes found in the venom and, so far, there have been 25
enzymes identified.
Venom causes severe pain, cell death, numbness, diminished function and can
cause the loss of a limb or life. Local effects of venom are inflammation, damage
to blood vessel lining, clotting defects and tissue destruction. Some venom can
cause paralysis due to neurotoxicity.
How can you protect yourself and your pet from being bitten by a rattlesnake?
While walking, control your pet with a leash. Don’t allow your pet to run
unrestrained. A leash is your pet’s best safety device.
Don’t allow your pet to explore holes in the ground, under logs, flat rocks
or under planks of wood. A dog poking its nose into every mysterious hole
in the ground, sniffing under downed logs, digging in leafy patches on the
forest floor…are all opportunities to discover a rattlesnake.
Stay on open paths. Snakes avoid open areas where there is little
protection from predators. Open areas give you an opportunity to avoid a
visible snake.
Keep nighttime walks to a minimum. Snakes are nocturnal.
If you hear a rattlesnake, keep your pet at your side, locate the snake and
move away.
Off trial hiking with an unleashed pet may stir up a snake and you could
become a victim as easily as your pet.
If your pet seems unusually curious about “something” hidden in the
grass, back off your pet immediately. Don’t allow your pet to harass other
animals.
Never attempt to pick up or kill a rattlesnake. Most people are bitten
while engaging in these activities.
A rattlesnake bite will make dogs very ill and can do serious damage and can be
fatal. Fortunately, rattlesnake bites do not happen very often.
If your dog has ever been treated with rattlesnake antivenom, your dog is at risk.
Antivenom is made from blood serum of hyper-immunized horses. A single dose
of antivenom can make dogs so sensitive to the serum that another dose of
antivenom is rapidly fatal. Dogs that have been treated with antivenom once
should never be treated with it again. Antivenom treatment can cost hundreds to
thousands of dollars.
A rattlesnake vaccine recently became available for dogs.
Why not vaccinate your dog?
While the vaccine will make your dog resistant to rattlesnake venom, it will
not make a dog immune.
Resistance is not 100%, it is still possible for your dog to be injured or
killed from a rattlesnake bite. Avoidance of rattlesnakes is the only 100%
guarantee.
As with any immunization, your dog can have an allergic reaction. Most
vaccine reactions are mild and easily treatable, but rarely, vaccination
reactions can be serious or fatal.
Why vaccinate your dog for rattlesnake bites?
A vaccination makes sense if your dog has a high risk of being bitten.
A dog vaccinated with the vaccine will be much less likely to suffer
permanent injury or death from a bite.
If you live in a neighborhood with lots of rattlesnakes, ever had a dog
bitten before, take your dog hiking in the mountains and don’t use a leash
or will be visiting an area that might have rattlesnakes, a vaccination will
help provide resistance.
If your dog has ever received antivenom, you can eliminate the risk of fatal
antivenom sensitivity by vaccinating.
The rattlesnake vaccination is administered in two injections a month apart, the
first year, with annual boosters each year after that. Cost is usually about $18.00
per dose. Boosters should be administered in the spring or about a month before
your dog is going to be in rattlesnake territory.
The vaccine stimulates your dog’s immunity system to produce antibodies.
Vaccinated dogs will suffer less pain and have a reduced risk of permanent injury
from rattlesnake bites.
If your dog is vaccinated with the vaccine and is bitten, be sure to have your
veterinarian evaluate your dog as soon as possible after the bite. Infections are
still possible. Your veterinarian, also, needs to be sure your dog has enough
antibody protection for the specific species of snake that has bitten your pet.
Additional medical treatment may be necessary.
Is the rattlesnake vaccination the right choice for your dog? Talk with your
veterinarian for more information.