Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Rattlesnake Vaccine for dogs - fyi

Since my experience with Chuy last week, I've not had a lot of time to research, but I have found this bit of information on rattlesnake vaccination for dogs. The slideshow is tedious, but the transcripts were informative and full of useful information.

Until Chuy was bitten, I had no idea vaccination to help prepare your pet for rattler venom even existed. Praline has had her first injection Saturday and will get another in about a month. The local vet is charging $20 each for those, and I'll have to administer the second myself. Chuy will get his first injection around that time.

I've no intention of seeming a one-note symphony these days, but this subject is in the fore for me now. Just the anti-venom shot for Chuy was $450, with several hundred more in care due for all the tests, IVs, etc. I'm given to understand that the anti-venom shot is not even available in some clinics because it has a short shelf-life and may spoil unused, the expense of which would have to be passed along to a clinic's patients for other treatments. Other clinics are charging $800 or more per dose. This makes me think that-- heaven forbid-- should one of my dogs get bitten by a rattler on a Sunday afternoon, I may not even be able to find a vet who has anti-venom and will show up for emergencies. My hope is simply to lessen the severity of any future snakebites.

Anyhoo, the whole point of this is for my friends who live in or near rattler country who have semi-outdoor dogs, you really need to look into getting this vaccine for your pet. Just my humble opinion and probably worth what you paid for it. I just wish I'd known when I moved here that such a thing existed. I'm staying on my toes on this one.

8 comments:

Ann diPomazio said...

Thank you for sharing. I didn't know such a vaccine existed either.

I am so glad he is doing well.

MiniKat said...

Thanks for letting us know about these vaccines. I will store it in my memory banks in the hopes that some day I'll move back to the southwest... and have my dream pup. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I lived right outside the Dallas area for years, grew up in the country and had never seen a rattler anywhere in the region.
I had heard that such things existed, but never could find one. All I ever found were copperheads, water moccasins, and ratsnakes.

However, I now live in West Texas, and rattlers are kinda.....well, native.

Old NFO said...

Good point Phlegmmy! And yes, that ounce of prevention is worth the pound of cure, especially if the cure is not available till Monday or Tuesday...

Vinogirl said...

Oh dear, didn't realise the little guy had had an encounter with a rattler...but it looks like he's doing fine, thankfully!

J.R.Shirley said...

Cheap insurance. They have it/does it work for people, too?

John

Anonymous said...

We have copperhead probs here...wonder if they have a vaacine for that?

BCmajor said...

Sorry for Chuy's Rattler encounter, so glad he survived! My little Jack Russell Terrier "Whip" survived his second bite, a bad bite to the front leg. I have no doubt I would have lost him if not for the vaccine. Even with the vaccine he was in serious condition for a few days. He is on the upswing though, no secondary infection and minimal necrosis of tissue around the bite. If you love your dog get him vaccinated even if the chance for encounter with Rattlesnake is low!!!