CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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We met a lady at the park this week who had gotten her 9 yr old chihuahua a shot of rattlesnake vaccine because she planned to take him camping. It darned near killed the poor dog! He got a huge abcess that had to be lanced and stitched up and was very sick. It just made me wonder how many actually get these shots, is it practical, and how common is a bad reaction?
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The Texan
Summer: A Cool Climate Winter: A Warm Climate
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Many dogs in the southwest get the shot, including our 2 and I have heard of only a couple of adverse reactions. Overall I feel the minute chance of a reaction is far outweighed by the benefits of the shot. You only have to watch a dog die an agonizing death from a rattlesnake bite once and you will get your pet or working dog vaccinated. By the way, the cost for an anti-venom treatment is around $1000, if you are lucky and the vet has the anti-venom.
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corgi-traveler
Bakersfield, CA
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Everyone I know who does ranch herding, search and rescue, or hunts with their dogs gets the vaccine. A few folks I know who live out in the country get them for their pets as well. It's a good prevention if your dog is at risk of running afoul of a rattlesnake.
True story to make me want to stay away from anyplace I might meet a rattler... a co-worker's MIL is the office manager of a large vet practice here in town. A couple of years ago they had a dog come in with a rattlesnake bite. Now the vet hospital doesn't keep anti-venom on hand because it's very expensive, has a very short shelf-life, and they are in an urban area. Instead, they had an agreement to get anti-venom from the county hospital when it was needed. So, this co-worker's MIL calls the county hospital. Sure, they say, we've got some anti-venom. Unfortunately, it was all expired. Not only did my heart break for that dog's owner, but it made me really question the emergency room's ability to treat ME for a snakebite!
Samantha (the poster)
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PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
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Gotta say, WOW? Never new about a vaccine for rattlesnakes?? Learn something new every day!!
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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The dog that had the bad reaction is about 7 lbs and 9 yrs old. I imagine those factors had something to do with it.
I found this informative website that says the dog needs a booster every six months?
Rattlesnake Vaccine for Dogs
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dturm
Munster, IN
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Don't live or practice in an area endemic to rattlesnakes, so I'm not real up to date on therapies, vaccinations. I have read recently that there is a new vaccine. There is some debate about efficacy of any rattlesnake vaccine.
Had a conversation with a schnauzer owner (while in an RV service waiting room) who's dog had a rattlesnake bite wound. Treated by local vet with supportive care and antibiotics, no vaccine or antivenom. Took a while and the dog was pretty sick but recovered.
If I was confronted with a situation where I only had expired antivenom, I'd probably recommend using it.
Samantha indicated that many high risk dogs are vaccinated. If I had a dog with a high liklihood of encountering rattlers, I think I'd vaccinate them, though probably not a 6# chihuahua
Doug
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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There's also this option:
Rattlesnake Avoidance Training
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
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corgi-traveler
Bakersfield, CA
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I know a few people who have taken a course similar to the one Judy linked to. They all had good things to say about the courses, but most give their dogs vaccines in addition to the course. If my dog was a high risk, I'd probably do both myself. But, as Dr. Doug pointed out, not with a middle aged, 6 lb dog!
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Code2High
Agoura, CA
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Joined: 12/21/2004
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Friend of mine had a cat bitten by a rattler. In the head. Treated with benadryl and antibiotics, no anti-venom, and from what I've heard, living in So Cal where they are quite common, that's a fairly common approach and tends to be successful.
susan
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tandemsuit
Home is where we park it!
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The vet we use in AZ won't give the vaccine unless your take your dog to the avoidance training.
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