Tips to Protect Your Dog from Snakebites

I walk my dog, Corso, in the hills near my home most every early morning. I regularly let him off leash so he can check out the rolling landscape of ravines, grassy slopes, shrub thickets, and tree groves. He seldom goes too far, and it's a pleasure to enjoy him run, smell, and generally be a dog. However with reports of a sharp increase in rattlesnake bites, I am more careful about when and where I let him off leash and how far he roams.

There are no reliable data on dogs bitten by rattlesnakes, but according to the California Poison Control Center, rattlesnakes bit 184 people in California from April through June, up from 124 the previous year. The boost is probably due to a heavy 2011 rains, which triggered a boost in rodents, a staple of the rattlesnake diet plan. Because there has been lighter rains this year, rattlesnakes are venturing even more out than normal to discover food, water, and mates, which puts them in higher conflict with humans and their pet dogs. Boosts in rattlesnake bites have also been reported in Texas, Missouri, Kentucky and Colorado.

The U.S Department of Forestry, in addition to other firms, encourages hikers and homeowners to work out extra care outdoors this summer. But it is essential to remember our canines are likewise at greater threat. Snake-bit pets are appearing in veterinary emergency clinic in greater numbers this year, states Dr. Daryl Schawel of the Contra Costa Veterinary Emergency Center. "We're seeing more bites and the snakes are being more aggressive," he says. "We've had a number of canines that were struck two times."

Opportunities are still slim that you will encounter a rattlesnake, however nonetheless it's a great idea to be mindful, says Melanie Piazza, a director at Marin-based Wildcare. Rattlesnakes are shy animals and tend to stay concealed from view, so one way to prevent them is to be mindful around rocks, tall yards, and fallen logs and branches. Snakes only strike if they are provoked or feel threatened. "One of the important things we tell folks is that you're not going to get bit if you're not in biting distance," she says.

Watch Your Step!

It's also a good idea to pay attention to the trail. Rattlesnakes can not control their body temperature, so they often want to expand on a path or roadway to obtain warm in the sun. I can get so caught up in the landscapes or seeing Corso that I don't take note of where I put my feet.

In the spring of 2011, a pal and I were walking Corso along a slim path in the high, grassy hills of Wildcat Canyon, a 2,430-acre regional park the San Francisco Bay Area, when my friend heard a loud rattle best beside her foot. She had nearly stepped on a coiled rattlesnake at the edge of the path. Although the snake remained in plain sight, its golden brown stripes and markings combined so flawlessly with the tawny path and diffuse light of the trailside rocks and grasses that all 3 of us nearly tread on it. The snake was content to terrify the hell out of us, and did not strike prior to it slipped quickly into a rocky gorge.

If your dog likes the water, it's excellent to bear in mind rattlesnakes are good swimmers. In May, a 28-year-old man was bitten in the hand when he pulled what he thought was a dead infant rattlesnake (children can inject just as much venom as grownups and sometimes more) from Lake De Valle in the Bay Area. Like most rattlesnake bites on people, it was not deadly, and the man made it through after being hurried to the healthcare facility for antivenin treatment. Rattlesnakes in the water can appear like drifting branches, so give lakes and tanks an excellent scan for debris prior to including the fetch ball for your dog.

Lakes and tracks are not the only places to be cautious. Approximately half of the dogs bitten by rattlesnakes are struck in the security of their own yards. So this summer season, take some preventive measures around your house by getting rid of piles of wood, cuttings, and debris. Cut tall lawns, and if you have fruit trees, clean up their droppings or the decaying fruit will bring in rodents, which in turn bring in snakes.

The absolute best way to keep you dog safe is to keep her leashed. Corso is responsive to voice control, so I still let him off leash, however I'm much more careful about the surface. I will keep him on leash if there are piles of rocks, fallen trees, or tangles of branches near the trail. I also don't let him explore tall yards, which is something he actually likes to do. I tend to stay on the more well-traveled tracks, and we take fewer strolls in the remote backcountry. When he is off leash, I keep his off path wandering to a minimum.

Exactly what to Do When You Encounter a Rattlesnake

The most crucial thing is to make sure you and your dog do not interfere with it in any way. Rapidly get your dog under control and back away. It's a great idea to look before you jump, or you might run the risk of stepping on another rattler. The vast majority of bites on human beings are around the hand because people--- frequently young males--- aim to pick up the snake or otherwise handle it. Remember, rattlesnakes are far more afraid of you than you are of them. If you offer them a possibility, they will gladly pull away.

If your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake in the lawn or on the trail, you'll know, says Schawel, because she will instantly show indications of distress. "It hurts like a son of a weapon. Most dogs are bitten somewhere in the muzzle, and if you try and touch the area of the bite, they might snap at you."

Schawel states you should remove the bitten dog from the immediate area to prevent a second bite. If the bite is on the neck, you may want to remove your dog's collar in case of swelling. Take the dog as quickly as possible to a vet. Do not use a tourniquet, cut into the bite location, or attempt to suck the venom out of the injury. Do not put off seeking treatment. The longer it takes to get to a vet, the higher threat your dog remains in.

Be Prepared if a Bite Occurs

Preventive procedures consist of calling around to find out which veterinary clinics are open 24 hours and which have a supply of antitoxin. Not all vets have it on hand, and you might squander important time going to a clinic that is either from the antitoxin or does not alleviate snakebites. In California, another option is vaccinating your dog for snakebites, however it is vital to keep in mind the vaccination only slows the harmful impacts of a bite and you still need to get your pup in for treatment as quickly as possible.

Piazza says it's a smart idea to research routines and behaviors of the toxic snakes that live in the outdoor areas you check out with your dog. "If you live in California, it's easy since we only have the rattler," she states. "But if you reside in Florida, for example, where there are at least six types of venomous snakes, you need to be doing some reading."

Video of a Northern Pacific rattlesnake in Napa Valley:

Tips for Dogs and Humans

To avoid bites:

- Avoid rattlesnakes. Back away and provide them the access.
- Watch your action; use long trousers and boots when in snake country.
- Look for covert snakes before picking up wood or sticks.
- In tall lawn, bring a stick to scan the ground and frighten them away.
- Stay at least six feet away. Keep animals under control.
- Don't presume a snake isn't harmful if it doesn't rattle. Rattlers in some cases strike quietly.
- Rattlers swim. Don't get anything that looks like a stick or a branch in the water.
- Hike with a pal if possible, and bring a mobile phone.

If bitten:

- Get everyone in your group far from the snake so it doesn't bite again.
- Seek emergency situation medical assistance. Decide if the quickest way to get help is to stroll the victim out or to summon help.
- Remove fashion jewelry, tight clothing, or collars from the afflicted area.
- Keep the victim as calm as possible.
- Don't apply a tourniquet or attempt to suck out the venom.