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Rattlesnakes

jcook

Well-Known Member
I go hiking with Stella almost every other day and now that it is gettin warmer the rattlesnakes are coming out. I plan to take her to a rattlesnake class very soon (I think it's in mid April). We stay on the trail and her she has a strong "come" as well as "leave it". But I want to know if there is anything I can do if she does get bit. I only weight 15 pounds more than her so there is no way I can carry her. I take Benadryl with me in case of a bee sting, but is there anything like that for snake bites?? I heard there is a rattlesnake vaccine, anybody know anything about that? People have been posting pictures of rattlesnakes at mission trails lately and I'm just getting sort of freaked out. And does anybody know what time of the day id be less likely to encounter one?
 

Geisthexe

Banned
ONLY thing you can do is get the Rattlesnake vaccination .. that will by you more time for her .. but other then that hun .. its all you can do .. we see rattlesnake bites alot here in NM bc I am an emerg. vet tecn. And also let me state .. dogs get really mean after getting bit not saying all of them but some do. My last suggestions is train her to a muzzle so you can put one on if she does get bit so when you take her to the hospital it is easier for the techs if she is in that much pain.

We had a mastiff come in that got bit, we had to tranquilize the dog to get a muzzle on which could have compromised the dogs breathing, luckily it didn't but the Vet was worried. So the dog was put on Oz to help the dog...
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
Honestly a leather or basket muzzle might be good just for the walks. Most dogs get bit in the face. They look down right at the snack or their face is there barking. I know Iv'e lost 2 dogs to rattlers. Bit our saint right on the nose and swelled her head up like a beach ball
 

Geisthexe

Banned
Not to be mean Chuck but they also get bit in many other spots as well.. We had a pit bull come in with it on his stomach. He was peeing the rattler was in it and nailed him. Also we have them bit on legs b/c as they are walking by bushes. All parts need to be watched for .. Its really hard to know most owners will put there dog down b/c they can not afford the treatment of the bit and the antidote, one vile is 600.00 and the synthetic one is 350.00 (HERE) so I can imagine in CA or FL .. for all the treatment its about 2000.00 to 3000.00 ..


Just be careful .. as I also hike so I only take a few dogs at a time so I can watch them.
 

jcook

Well-Known Member
Oh wow rattlesnake bites just got even scarier for me to think about! I heard a rattler one day but it was off the trail and we just walked by without any issues. Are they usually pretty loud?? And I'll talk to my vet about the vaccine. I try to avoid going hiking alone as well, but sometimes it's just me and Stella.
 

Tiger12490

Well-Known Member
I use to hike alot in Cali and there isnt a ton you can do but look out for them....If you walk on one that wasnt paying attention to you or if you or your dog steps on it you will indeed get bitten without a rattle...careful careful

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
 

cwayaustx

Banned
Yes a snake can bite any place. The key word there is most. Most bites are in the head neck area.

I forget the percentage but it is very high, I read that this was due to dogs sniffing or checking them out and most deaths from snake bites in dogs if I remember correctly is getting bit in the face neck area and throat/airway swelling causing suffocation. Growing up in west texas I have seen many dogs come home with snake bites a few on the feet but mostly around their face/jaw and honestly most of them lived through it. One thing that is happening in Texas now is that snakes arent giving a rattle warning anymore. One theory I read on this is because of the wild hog population going rampant, it is well known that a hog will seek and destroy a rattler if he hears him buzzin and experts claim that the crazy numbers of hogs in the wild now are causing this.
 
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chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
They say 30% of bites are dry. Which is one huge factor in most dogs making it. But like you said CW, it aint the venom that kills most. It's swollen airways that restrict air. They suffocate. Most venom bites a dog can pull out of on their own. I have seen it time and again in farm dogs. But a face and throat bite is what gets them
 

Tiger12490

Well-Known Member
I also heard a decent sized dog is normally very good against venomous bites and they work it out pretty well

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chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
Tigers right. My buddy Gray said he ha never owned a dog did not get bit by a copperhead. Only one died. He has at least 3 dogs at a time in the country in NC. Most work it out long as they can breath
 

mx5055

Well-Known Member
LIke dane sized, lol

We have cotton mouths and water mocs here. Haven't seen any and don't want too

Believe me DD, you don't. When I lived in Florida with my rotti (who had grown up in California and was a swimming fool of a dog)....he was in the canal standing in the water one day when I saw a water moc heading straight at him....they are ugly as sin!!! Luckily, Oso was well trained, and when I yelled "Out" he did get right out....after that, and seeing the alligators in there occasionally I had to find other options for his water play...and it was really hard keeping him out of that water cause it ran along the length of our backyard and beyond...could never let him out there alone after that :(
 
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trixie28

Well-Known Member
Wow, tell you what makes me glad to be in the boring UK. The most dangerous thing we meet on our walks is a nutty jack russell he thinks he's a wolf, howls and tries to lunge and nip everytime we meet,lol!!!
 

kbuchanan66

Well-Known Member
GOOD LORDY! Thank goodness I live in Canada. We only have Garden Snakes which are completly harmless. I realy only have to worry about the Giant Bears and Cougars. Oh and the odd Big Foot :p
 

cwayaustx

Banned
Yea, only bears... LOL, I'll take me chances with a lil ol rattler anyday compared to a bear. we have cougar's here also but not close to the numbers you guys have I'm sure.
 

northernmastiff

Well-Known Member
GOOD LORDY! Thank goodness I live in Canada. We only have Garden Snakes which are completly harmless. I realy only have to worry about the Giant Bears and Cougars. Oh and the odd Big Foot :p

Where do you live? We have rattlers north of us so when we rent a cottage, we have to be aware of it. Growing up in BC, we had rattlers as well. My uncles found a baby rattler and brought it home to my brother (he had a number of boas and pythons at the time). He thought it was cool at first, his first rattler, then he woke up one morning and said, "Okay, I think I went a little nuts there when I accepted the snake." Took it back to where it was found. Must have had a dream that he got bit by the rattler.

Don't have much to worry about around here where I live, just when we go camping or up to the cottage. Cougars, I absolutely hate cougars. Probably because there were a few attacks when I was a kid in my town. A few cougars were attacking kids.
 

mbleblaanc

Active Member
We have to look out for coyotees here on the east coast, I'm not sure how Maggie would react to one. Probably think it's her friend unfortunately lol