Rattlesnake Vaccine
Does anyone have experience with this vaccine. I work at a vet as a vet tech and we had 2 rattlesnake bites in 3 days, neither dog was vaccinated, both did fine with treatment. BUT it got me thinking of possibly getting the vaccine for Franklin. I'm a bit wary because UC Davis vet hospital does not recommend the vaccine and they are pretty much a top vet hospital in the country. I've also done a lot of research and read many many many stories of dogs developing serious adverse reactions and even several dogs who have died from the vaccine so I can't decide if I should get it or not.
I have 3 experiences with rattlesnake bites, and all make me think that a snake bite is not as bad as everyone fears it is (though it certainly needs medical treatment). The first was with a border collie, was bit on a trail ride, never received medical attention survived just fine to the ripe old age of 17. The second and 3rd happened last week. One was a 60 pound pitbull who was bit on the muzzle by a large rattlesnake, he had some swelling but nothing major, received anitvenin and was put on IV fluids for the night and did fine. His owner didn't get treatment for him until about 5 hours after the bite. The vet said if you get them in within the 1st 4-6 hours they usually do fine with treatment. The last dog bitten was a 20 pound (or less) labradoodle who was bitten by a baby rattler. Babies are supposed to be the worst. Anyway, she also received antivenin and was doing fine a few hours later. She actually had a reaction to the initial rate the antivenin was given and collapsed and became shocky but we decreased the rate it was given and she did fine. Was wagging her tail and happy as can be and swelling was almost totally gone by the time she went home the next day.
So again I wonder....to get or not to get? Anybody have any good advice or any good websites with actual scientific data about the efficacy of the vaccine? Red Rock Biologics who make the vaccine pretty much say it works, get it, with absolutely no proof or statistics. Thanks for any info!Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on
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Sidney has the vaccine (I think we're due for a booster soon). He had no adverse reaction, but I know a Weim who did have a reaction, but this Weim has autoimmune issues.
We live in San Diego and our vet was very favorable to the idea of the vaccine. We hike a lot in the foothills that are crawling with rattlers, but even just a short trip to the backyard to potty has its risks here. I understand that the vaccine does not prevent a reaction but does slow it, and lessens the effects.
Before getting the vaccine I did ponder and worry, just like you. I did lots of research and finally decided to go for it. I can't remember which specific sites I visited, but I also read forums where people talked about their experiences, and that did help a lot.
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on
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do u know if there is a vaccine for other snake bites? i am so nervous living here because of the water moccasins and the cooper heads and diamond backs. also Melissa, if u happen to know, if teddy is bite by any of these, what should i do? what if we dont have the money to pay for the treatment right then and there, will the vet still treat him? im sorry to ask on your post but it got me thinking of it
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Permalink Reply by Jane on
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As far as I know the vet is not obligated to treat your dog if you can't pay them. They would probably offer treatment within your price range or offer euthanasia if they really thought the dog was suffering. I would look into getting a credit card you could save just for emergencies, or Care Credit which is specifically for health issues and offers no interest for the first 6 months I believe.
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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
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Yes, I would apply for care credit right now. You can apply online and just make sure whatever vet you go to accepts it. It is a medical credit card and depending on what the vet decides you have anywhere from 3-12 months to pay it off with no interest. I ended up with a $2000 vet bill in October and care credit saved me. Here in Sacramento it costs about $2000-$2500 to treat a rattlesnake bite. A diamondback and copper head are both rattlesnakes so the rattlesnake vaccine should be effective for them (if it is in fact an effective vaccine).
As for what to do, you have 4-6 hours to seek treatment, as I have said I know of a dog who got no treatment and did fine, and I have also heard of several dogs that also were fine without treatment, just bleeding, swelling, and a lot of pain. I think if you HAD to choose, just get the antivenin (which is around $500-600 a vial) and opt for pain meds, and take the pup home after a few hours of hospitalization, that should at least save you some money. Ideally, you'd have a credit card or care credit set aside to help treat. They likely wouldn't euthanize from a snakebite because so many dogs do survive, they'd probably just give pain meds and cross their fingers. It also depends on where they are bit, the leg or foot is less detrimental than nose or throat where swelling can cut off airways.
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A copperhead isn't a rattlesnake, so the vaccine might not help against them. Copperheads and rattlers are both venemous pit vipers, but copperheads are a separate genus and don't have rattles.
Here''s a handy PDF that helps identify a venemous pit viper from a harmless snake.
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thank you! I always bunched them together for some reason. In looking at the vaccine however, the vaccine does provide some protection for the copperhead as well as a few others. Here is a link:
http://www.altaranchopet.com/Information_library/Dog_Cat/rattlesnak...
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Thank u for the info. Its greatly appreciated. There is about 5vets near my house so that's not a problem. I didn't realize how expensive it was to treat a snake bite. I will apply for the credit card and just pray I will never encounter a snake as the copper heads and the cotton mouths r the worst here
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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@rebecca There's an old Arab saying "Pray to Allah and tether your camel". If you're in an area where you fear snakes, keeping your dog on a leash will decrease the chances of conflict dramatically. Snakes are not really out to get anyone and will move out of the way unless startled, provoked or stepped on.
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you r right:). movies have made some animals seem like these horrible monsters that are out to get u, and that isnt true. i keep teddy on a leash but he has gotten use to being off leash in SC and DC so now that we are in AR he is a little confused he looks as if to say "why wont u let me run off!" if its a dog park i go in first and check the area out (if no one is there) if its the lake/open field that i go to often i check out the area or i follow the people in front of me:) if its long grass i stay away from it completely. teddy is amazing at recall, even in distractions so keeping him away from things is just a simple whistle or i just say "ted". i have free medical (hubbys in the military) so if i get bite i have treatment but i have to apply for the card for teddy which will take time to go through
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The card will give you peace of mind, so that's worth it right there :-)
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Hi Melissa, it really depends on where you live and what your lifestyle is:
Do you live in an area infested with western diamondback, copperheads and other type of rattlersnake. Can you identify them accurately?
Do you have fast access to a vet within your region? Can you carry your dog and drag yourself to safety if both of you got bit?
Is Franklin healthy to receive the vaccine? is he sensitive to horse products? (Antivenin is derived from antibodies created in horses blood serum)
To quote Red Rock Biologics, the vaccine is "intended as an aid, both in buying time for an owner to get their dog to a veterinarian and in limiting the ultimate destruction caused by envenomation", vaccine or not, you still need to go to the vet after a bite.
Also the vaccine is absolutely USELESS against Mojave rattlesnake, cottonmouths (Water Moccasin) and coral snakes.
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Sam, we have several western diamondbacks here, its the only poisonous snake in my area as far as I'm aware. We also have gartersnakes that look exactly like a rattlesnake but have no venom. They are also very docile so likely wouldn't bite a dog or human, so if you are bit, its a rattlesnake.
He's never had horse products so I don't know how he would react, thats why I'm afraid. We have a few dogs who have gotten abscesses at the vaccine site from rattlesnake vaccine that needed surgery to remove, and I've heard of dogs developing serious autoimmune disorders from the vaccine.
I live on the river, there is an emergency vet 5 minutes from my house, and frank is smaller so I know I could get him to a vet in good time (i'm mostly worried about him getting bit at home playing on the river), just have no idea how he would react to envenomation.
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