Aug. 19–Normal canine activities like sniffing behind a bush in the mountains or playing in the desert can leave dogs vulnerable to a rattlesnake bite, but a new vaccine may be able to ease their pain.
After a two years on the market in California, the vaccine was released in New Mexico earlier this summer.
The vaccine is targeted at the western diamondback and the prairie rattler, both prevalent in southern New Mexico, but may offer protection against other breeds as well, said Hilary Ward, administrative manager at Red Rock Biologicals, the company that developed and marketed the vaccine.
The only breed of rattlesnake that the vaccine does not seem to cover is the Mojave rattler, she added.
Tina Parks, who lives with four dogs in Las Palomas south of Truth of Consequences, has experience with snake bites, so she had her pets vaccinated as soon as the drug was available.
“Two of my dogs were bitten last year. One was bitten twice,” Parks said.
“It’s very painful to the dogs — extremely painful.” The symptoms of snake bites can be severe and are distinct from any other bites or wounds a dog can incur, said Mikala Hale, who works at the Animal Hospital of Las Cruces.
Dogs may have swelling and extensive tissue damage around the site of the bite, including discoloration and hemorrhaging, and the dog may go into shock.
But the severity depends on the size of the dog and the amount of venom injected, and not all cases are so extreme.
The standard treatment for rattlesnake bites is a round of anti-venom shots that cost several hundred dollars and can have harmful side-effects.
The vaccine costs about $30 per shot, and two doses are needed for the first vaccination. Though this is more expensive than most vaccines, price is not a factor for some pet owners.
“They’re my babies, I don’t care how much it costs. If it had been $1,000 I would have taken them in,” Parks said.
But Jody Kincaid, a holistic veterinarian in Anthony, does not put as much value on vaccines as traditionally trained doctors do, and cautioned pet owners against using the vaccine.
“The vaccines are far more dangerous than the snake bites,” he said, because they are foreign to the dog’s body and must be very strong to combat rattlesnake venom.
“Vaccines that are as potent as something like that cause severely destructive effects,” he said.
Ward said tests had shown no severe side effects.
“We’ve had a few adverse reactions, but they’re all really very mild and the rate is low,” Ward said, adding that they effects included diarrhea and vomiting but only occurred in .03 percent of dogs.
Some pet owners have reservations about the vaccines.
“It’s not something I would say yes or no to right now, but I would consider it,” said dog owner Susanne Richter, who lives off Roadrunner Parkway in Las Cruces Richter said she had concerns about the side effects of the drug and did not necessarily think it was needed for her dog, Freckles, as she rarely sees rattlesnakes in her area.
The vaccine has currently been licensed for a one-year conditional period, and Ward was confident it would be approved after a few more tests.
Even with the vaccination, Ward said dogs should be taken to the clinic immediately if they are bitten by a rattler.
SNAKE BITE VACCINE
–Vaccine: protects dogs from the effects of rattlesnake bites
–Cost: $30, price at individual veterinary clinics may vary
–Dosage: 2 shots spaced four weeks apart for first treatment; once yearly after that
–Availability: vaccine is available at Las Cruces veterinarians and must be administered by a professional
HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET SAFE FROM A SNAKE BITE:
–keep dogs on a leash when they are in the desert, mountains or other snake territory
–avoid areas with thick brush, stacked rocks or clustered roots
–clear away wood piles and other clutter where snakes may hide
–seal all open areas leading into your home
IF YOUR PET IS BITTEN BY A SNAKE:
–take pet to a local veterinary clinic where antidote can be administered
–do not use home remedies of any type
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