Spring has arrived, and that means outdoor dog ventures are on the rise! If you’re anything like me, spring symbolizes the time to leave the house from hibernation all winter and into the lure of fresh flowers in the air; it’s enough to pull you out of the sweats and strap on the hiking shoes. With a large number of wanderlust going out, that increases the number of potential dogs tagging along.
If you own a dog, you know that unless they are on a proper leash, then they like to stray from the beaten path, this is okay if we were the only ones out in nature, but that’s never the case. Snakes are among the wildlife that you will encounter.
There are many different species of snake out there. For those of you who don’t know, here’s a quick education about snakes:
There are 2 main types of snakes.
Constrictors – These are the pythons and kingsnakes, among others. Basically, these snakes catch their prey with their mouth and curl their body around them and constrict. This is how they kill their prey, suffocation. These are what are considered not as dangerous (though snakes of various sizes can be a danger to a small child or dog). These snakes are NOT poisonous, though they do have teeth and can still bite.
Venomous – These are your rattlesnakes, vipers, and basically anything that kills their prey while remaining at a safe distance. These guys will strike and envenomate their prey, and while they die, the snake will wait nearby until they can consume them.
You can tell the difference from a distance just by looking at the snake’s head. Constrictors have a narrow head slightly wider than the body, whereas venomous snakes have a wide head at the cheeks because of the pockets of venom that are stored, and it’s more triangular.
Most of the time, you will HEAR the rattlesnake before you see it; its tail rattle will vibrate and sound like a buzz. All snakes have a striking distance of half their body length; math time, if a snake is 4 feet long and their striking range is half its body length, then what is its striking distance? That’s right, 2 feet!
So now that you have a brief overview of the types of snakes you may encounter, let’s move on to the dog facts.
Can Dogs Survive Rattlesnake Bites?
Dogs can survive rattlesnake bites, but the severity of the bite and the dog’s size, age, and overall health will determine their chances of survival. Rattlesnake venom can be very toxic and can cause severe damage to a dog’s tissues and organs.
We all know dogs use their nose to sniff, and they are curious af! Working in a vet clinic, I would see many cases of rattlesnake bites, and I have personal experience with rattlesnake encounters. Typically dogs would get bit on the face; this is bad news, bears! If a dog gets bit in the face, the swelling can obstruct the airway through the nose, and for obvious reasons, you need to see a vet!
Now some dogs have gotten away with getting bit by a snake, and nothing happened. A lot of clients have told me that their dog was bitten on multiple occasions and never sought medical attention, and the dog was fine. This is your own risk!
Most of these clients are ranchers, and their dogs are ranch dogs, so not to say the owner didn’t love their dog. Relationships are different for everyone. Dogs stem from wolves, and their immune system is meant for survival, so yes, perhaps some dogs have a stronger tolerance of snake bites, not to mention every snake is different, so please don’t base the decision for medical treatment on that.
What to do if your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake?
If you suspect that your dog has been bitten by a rattlesnake, it is important to seek veterinary clinic immediately. Treatment for a rattlesnake bite in dogs typically involves the administration of antivenom, pain medication, and supportive care to manage symptoms and prevent complications. The sooner a dog receives treatment, the better their chances of survival.
If your dog has been bitten by any snake, please go to your nearest emergency veterinary clinic. If you see the snake that bit your dog, please try and identify the snake correctly. I know you may be shaken, but knowing what type of venom you’re dealing with will absolutely help your dog’s medical staff.
There are many ways to protect your dog this spring and summer from all types of snakes, in particular (if you are a California resident) Rattlesnakes!
Vaccines
Is there a rattlesnake vaccine for dogs? Yes, there is a vaccine for rattlesnakes vaccines for dogs.
There is a company in Woodland that has formulated a vaccine that aids in the protection of dogs from rattlesnake bites.
A common misconception of this vaccine is that it is a “preventative”; it is not. A preventative vaccine is like Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, and Bordetella, among others. These vaccines protect the function of cells from diseases and viruses. However, snake venom is venom, like a poison, which kills the cells in the tissue altogether. Like all vaccines, though, it creates memory cells to help the immune system fight off what it can.
This vaccine buys your dog valuable time to seek medical treatment when time is of the essence in a snake bite situation.
I always told clients that it’s better to have the vaccine on board than wish they had it, and you didn’t. Since there is no set time frame for when the venom passes through the body, it’s better not to waste or risk it, especially in the case when you are in the middle of nowhere and must hurry back to the car and race to a hospital.
Call your local clinic to see if they carry the vaccine. Suppose they do; please consider getting it for your dog. It’s a 2-vaccine series spread out 4 weeks apart; in some cases, there may be a 3rd vaccine for extra large dogs, but if you stay consistent with it, then you will only need 1 vaccine per year after that. My dogs are vaccinated, and it’s a real peace of mind knowing they are current with the most protection I can give, especially since Beowolf roams freely about the ranch while I work. The best time to get started with the series is in February and March as the peak of the snake season is April; however, you can start or booster anytime during the spring and summer, again better to have it and not need it.
Standard reactions are a lump at the injection site that can appear anywhere between 2 days and 2 weeks from getting the vaccine; more severe cases are abscesses that appear though these are very rare but considered normal. If you see this, you can apply a warm compress for 5 minutes a couple of times a day, and please call to notify your vet of this, as they are to be reporting reactions.
Rattlesnake Avoidance Classes
Yes, there are rattlesnake classes that you and your dog can attend together. This is held by various people with usually the assistance of a professional snake handler. Typically the rattlesnake used is alive with its mouth taped for the protection of the dogs in the class.
E-collars or electric collars are used as an aid for a deterrent in training; what the class does is show the dog the snake in a natural environment. The rattle begins to vibrate, and as the dog pays attention to the snake, the trainer hits the button on the E-collar.
My dogs have yet to participate in classes, but we hope to get started soon. I know a lot of clients who love the classes and feel it has helped them and their dogs in avoiding rattlesnakes.
Antivenom
This is a treatment method that is also time sensitive and must be given slowly. This is only administered by a veterinarian and should only be used in the event of an actual bite. Sometimes if medical treatment is immediately after a bite and clinical signs are not severe, then you can get away with IV fluids and IV antibiotics and painkillers along with monitoring and not need the antivenom, but most cases do.
You
You should have known that everything with your pet boils down to you! If you know you are going out on a hike with your dog, take extra precautions, this isn’t just for your dog’s safety but yours as well. People get bit all the time by stepping on a snake accidentally. So here are just a few ways that you can accomplish this.
Research – Investigate the area where you’re going and see if there are any natural inhabitants to watch out for (rattlesnakes are NOT the only ones out there to watch for).
Tools – Leashes are best for keeping your best bud close to you on the beaten path and out of tall weeds and rummaging through wood piles.
Your eyes – Nature is beautiful, no doubt, but try to draw your eyes to the ground ahead of you and scan the ground for anyone on the path ahead of you. Scanning for snakes can help you and your dog from accidentally stepping on a snake.
Your ears – For the obvious reasons you want to listen out for rattlesnakes, a lot of times, you can hear the rattle before you see the snake.
Next, the most effective method of avoidance classes is the live rattle; the sound of the rattle will carry and will warn a dog before he’s within striking distance. Snakes like to warn you to KEEP away, not just get away, so if the dog hears the rattle, chances are they are in a safe distance to warrant a warning, not a bite.
I do all these things when I go hiking and also when I am just walking around the ranch. I have a lot of paths that I take to get to the horses to feed them, and there are plenty of places to stumble upon a snake. I am constantly scanning not only where I step but the area where Beowolf is walking around too. I am a little more lenient on Beowolf being on the property loss because his instincts are strong, and he has a good sense of danger, at least keeping his distance long enough for me to get to him.
I really hope this post helps you understand the nature of snakes and tips to keep your dogs and yourself safe this summer!