Rattlesnake bites are a very serious threat to your pet’s health, and it’s important to be mindful of these beasties as you and your dog head out to enjoy the sunshine. And while we don’t yet know how this year’s rattlesnake season will play out, we would like to give you some advice to help protect your pet (and you) from this painful and life-threatening injury.

If you and your dog take your walks in the park or around the block, your chances of encountering a snake are minimal. However, if you are more adventurous, and you like to go to the foothills and areas such of Roxborough State Park, for example, or to our eastern prairies, there is a much greater chance that you and your pet may run across a rattlesnake.

Rattlesnakes and Pets

Dogs are always excited to look for things that move or make noise. Because of this, it’s not surprising that rattlesnake bites are commonly found on your dog’s face, neck, and forelegs. Please keep your dog’s enthusiastic curiosity in mind while you are taking your morning or evening strolls, and consider the following when it comes to rattlesnakes and pets:

  • Letting your dog run off-leash gives you no control over your pet and is playing rattlesnake roulette – please keep them on-leash, especially during the warmer parts of the days when snakes are likely to be out and active.
  • Keeping dogs close at hand gives you much more control.  If you notice that your dog is reacting to something with their ears perked up and their concentration focusing in intently, just pull back on the leash until you confirm that there is nothing lurking in the grass.

Should the worst occur, and your dog does get bitten, don’t panic. Instead, bring your pet in for emergency care as soon as you possibly can. A dog’s survival rate is high if he or she is aggressively treated within 4-6 hours of the snake’s bite. At Seven Hills, we have antivenin in stock, and the know-how needed to help your pet through this harrowing time.

You may also want to talk to your vet about the rattlesnake vaccine. While this vaccination won’t make your dog immune to the effects of a rattlesnake’s venom, it will help to neutralize the effects, making the odds for a successful treatment much higher.

If you have any questions about the antivenin to rattlesnake venom, the vaccine, or about rattlesnakes and pets in general, please give us a call. No matter your questions, we are always here to help.