This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Rattlesnake Attack: How to Protect and Treat Your Pet

Rattlesnakes are a danger to everyone, but should you come across this deadly reptile, here are some sound tips on preventing and treating a bite.

Summer is the height of rattlesnake season, and Calabasas residents definitely have our fair share of neighborhood rattlers. Every year, we treat anywhere from several to many rattlesnake bites, usually involving dogs but occasionally cats (among the ‘small’ animal pets). 

The severity of each pet’s response to the venom is different and can range from mild to life-threatening. The venom causes internal damage to the blood vessels, leading to loss of blood fluid/proteins and to various clotting problems. The venom can also cause extensive tissue damage and death (necrosis). 

Because we cannot initially know how intense your pet’s reaction will be, we recommend in ALL cases to seek immediate veterinary care if your pet is bitten.

Find out what's happening in Calabasaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As a mostly outdoor hazard, in most cases rattlesnake bites can be avoided. Pet owners are the first line of defense, because we have most of the control over where our pets live and travel. Rattlesnakes can be found almost anywhere, out in the open or hidden from view; from hiking trails, camping spots, and hunting areas, to your garage, front or back yard. 

Keep the following in mind:

Find out what's happening in Calabasaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Pets that live or go outside unsupervised are at highest risk-look into ‘snake proofing’ your yard (web search recommended) Keep in mind that snake-proofing is not 100% effective all of the time.
  • Keep your pets on a leash, even in your yard (front and back) if you want to have the best control over where your pet can go
  • If you allow free roaming in your yard, check the yard as thoroughly as possible before letting them out
  • Keep your pets out of any areas hidden from view, i.e. tall grasses, bushes, rocks, holes in the ground
  • ANY object obstructing your view can be hiding a rattlesnake

Your pet also has some control whether a rattlesnake encounter occurs. Some pets are inherently clever and know to stay away from areas where they sense danger, while others need some guidance.  You can enroll your dog in ‘rattlesnake aversion’ classes where they will (hopefully) learn how to recognize the presence of a rattlesnake and avoid any confrontation. You can perform a web search to find the time/location of local classes

A rattlesnake vaccine is also available through many local veterinarians. An initial series of two vaccine injections, given one month apart, followed by a booster once to twice a year thereafter is recommended by the manufacturer (RedRocksBiologics.com). The company states the vaccine offers protection by neutralizing some of the venom toxin, thus reducing the effects on your pet. While the vaccine likely does provide some protection, the following should be kept in mind:

  • Even fully vaccinated, immediate veterinary care is usually required and highly recommended
  • The costs of rattlesnake bite treatment may be reduced some, because of the helpful protection from the vaccine but will still be fairly expensive
  • Some dogs may have a reaction to the vaccine itself (most common is a lump at the vaccine injection site which usually resolves on its own.)

If preventative/avoidance measures don’t work, look for the following indications that a snake bite likely has occurred (if you did not see it happen):

  • rapid onset of swelling (commonly face or paw/limb)
  • two (or more) fang mark puncture wounds oozing/bleeding (not always seen)
  • pain and change in behavior (guarded, protective of self)
  • bruising of affected area
  • lethargy, shock, collapse

Again, how severely affected your pet will be depends on many factors, such as time of season, age of rattlesnake, amount of venom, pet size, individual variation, vaccine, etc.  Regardless of the situation, you must seek immediate veterinary care if your pet is bitten, and a treatment plan will be discussed. 

Find out in advance if your veterinarian carries the medication (anti-venom) needed to treat rattlesnake bites, as this is the most important part of treatment. The sooner you get your pet to a veterinarian, the better chance your pet has to survive.  DO NOT try to simply monitor or treat at home.  

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?