As the weather warms up and sunny days call to us to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, remember that other animals are also out. Rattlesnakes love to enjoy sunshine, the forest and many of the same hiking tails that you do.
Here are a few tips to keep you furry friend safe while you are out and about or at home in rattlesnake country.
Here are a few tips to keep you furry friend safe while you are out and about or at home in rattlesnake country.
- Avoid dense brush, rocky or tall grassy areas. Stay on tails or roads. You are more likely to see a snake sunning itself and be able to avoid the danger.
- Walk your dog on a 6 foot leash. If you see or hear a snake, if your dog is on a leash your can more easily avoid a bite. The vast majority of bites occur when the dog is off-leash or on a flexi-lead.
- Snake-proof your yard. Keep the grass short. Minimize the amount of snake friendly hideouts(rock pile and brush). There are some fencing ideas out there on how to keep them out, be sure to look at those if you have a problem around you house.
- Get your dog the rattlesnake vaccine. The vaccine is made from snake venom and generate antibodies in the animal that help REDUCE the reaction to a bite. Veterinarians report the vaccinated dogs experience less swelling and pain, less tissue damage and a faster recovery time.
- If you or your dog encounter a rattlesnake... Slowly and calmly back away until out of striking distance(about the length of the snake) and the snake stops rattling. Then leave the area- if there is one snake, there are likely to be more.
- Know a rattlesnake-bite symptoms-
- Immediate symptoms include:
- puncture wounds(can be bleeding)
- severe pain
- swelling
- restlessness, panting, or drooling
- More Severe symptoms may appear quickly or a few hours later include:
- lethargy, weakness, sometimes collapse
- muscle tremors
- diarrhea
- seizures
- neurological signs
- If your animal is bitten, if you can carry the animal to the car. Limiting the animal's activity will limit how fast the venom moves around the body.
- Get the animal to the vet as fast as possible. The faster the treatments(antivenin, IV fluids and supportive care) are given the greater the success rate.
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