The time for snakebites in Central Texas is most of the year, but is especially prevalent during the hot summer months. The curious and fearless nature of our dogs makes them natural targets for rattlesnake bites.
With so much development going on we are infringing on the snake’s natural habitat and forcing them to have to deal with urbanization and us to have to deal with them. In this scenario, no one is happy. Unfortunately there is little you can do to prevent snakes, but you can get your dog vaccinated to reduce the toxic effects on your dog. This vaccine creates an immunity that works to neutralize the toxins in snake venom. This can greatly reduce the risk of death or permanent injury and greatly reduce the cost of treatment. The protocol for this vaccine is as follows:
Year 1: Two vaccinations one month apart
Year 2: One vaccination each year with a booster one month before any exposure to high risk environments.
It should be mentioned that a snake bite received between the first twovaccinations will have the full effect and will still require the full treatment. The vaccination series will have to be started over after recovery, so do not expose your dog to a threat before the two vaccine protocol is finished. This actually happened to one of our patients at Manchaca Road Animal Hospital.Even after the full vaccination series, your pet should be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation as soon as possible following a snakebite.
It is recommended that a dog be healthy and at least four months old to start receiving this vaccine. Our Schnauzers, Bismark, Lollipop, and Vlad are all vaccinated for sure. Their long noses get them in enough trouble as it is and we live in a heavily wooded subdivision with plenty of snakes.