We treated our first rattlenake bite of the year recently. It
was a very sweet Boxer that had been bitten in the face.
Fortunately treatment was initiated early and successfully.
We treated our first rattlenake bite of the year recently. It was a very sweet Boxer that had been bitten in the face. Fortunately treatment was initiated early and successfully.
The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is the one we worry about in this area. It can be recognized by the evenly spaced, angular brown spots along its back; the broad, triangular head with a narrow neck; cat shaped (not round) eyes; and usually rattles at the end of the tail. They are usually between one and four feet here.
First you need to know that if you avoid them, they will not come after you. Most bites in pets are a result of the pets’ fascination with, and pursuit of the snake. Others are a result of accidentally stepping on or near their hiding places. This is why almost all bites in pets occur on the face, neck or the extremities. Face and neck bites can be the most dangerous because the inevitable rapid swelling can compromise breathing.
Rattlesnakes, like other reptiles, are cold blooded. They lack the self regulation of body temperature that mammals have. They alter their activity and hiding places based on environmental temperatures. In very hot weather (more than 100 degrees F) they will look for cooler places to hide, like wood piles and garages with nice, cool cement floors. In the cooler weather of the winter they will tend to be inactive.
In the hot, dry summer weather they are attracted to developed locations due to the availability of water and food. This is why we see more summertime bites. Watering lawns, the use of spas and pools, and pets are things that might attract the snakes, especially if your property borders on wide-open spaces. If you are at least one neighborhood inside the line of civilization, you are unlikely to see snakes of any kind.
Rattlesnake avoidance tips listed on the University of California, Davis Pharmacy Department newsletter are as follows:
– Avoid hiking with your pet in peak season in areas with tall grass, rocks or wood piles;
– Stay on trails and keep pets on a leash;
– If a snake is encountered, keep pets away, rattlesnakes can strike up to half their length;
– Use a walking stick to rustle bushes along the trail to alert snakes to your presence;
– Remove all food sources (exterminate rodents, etc) and hiding places (wood and debris piles) from areas where your pet is kept.
The same site also has good advice should your pet be bitten:
– Remain calm;
– Wash the bite with clean water and soap;
– Keep the animal quiet;
– Immobilize the bitten area and keep it below the level of the heart;
– Seek veterinary help immediately, even if you are uncertain if it is a rattlesnake bite;
– Call your veterinarian or veterinary emergency hospital ahead so that they can prepare;
– Remove restrictive collars, choke chains, etc before swelling begins.
DO NOT:
– Ice or cool the area;
– Use a tourniquet;
– Try to cut or suck out the venom.
Twenty-five percent of bites do not result in envenomation. For the others the degree of venom transferred can be highly variable. The composition of the venom also plays a role in the severity of the situation.
Rattlesnakes in our area have venom that primarily causes destruction of blood cells and tissue, but there is also a neuro toxic component, which can cause progressive paralysis and suffocation as the respiratory muscles fail. In younger, smaller snakes the neuro toxin component is higher; so bites from small snakes may be more serious than those from larger snakes. To some degree this is compensated for by the larger amount of venom larger snakes can inject.
What to look for if you think your pet has been bitten:
– One or two small puncture wounds;
– Fast onset of significant swelling called “pitting edema” – swelling that is likely to leave a temporary impression after you touch it;
– Purple or red discoloration;
– Possible mild bleeding;
– Anxiety and pain;
– Possible difficulty in breathing.
The good news is that bites can be avoided. Most bites do not result in death if properly treated in the first six to nine hours. The bad news is untreated bites have a 10 times higher death rate.
So do not panic. Get your pet prompt veterinary attention. The cost can be high due to the high cost of antivenom, but the success rate of treatment is also high.
