Anti Venom Vaccination

[Bear GSD]

I've got a vet appointment with Bear this friday. We have to update his vaccinations, Rabies, Bordatella (not doing) and another one, I'll have to see which one. He's going to recommend doing Lepto (I really don't want to do that one either) but I want to inquire about an anti venom vaccination for Bear.

I live in an area where rattlesnakes are very populated. I see them all the time, it's not so much the bigger rattlers that I am worried about it's the smaller ones, whose bite is supposedly worse that the adults because they can't control their venom.
Has anyone had experience with this vaccination? It is supposed to lessen the severity of the bite if bitten. Should I do this?

[Bear GSD]

Oh, and I'm not sure what the vaccination is called. It's just a vaccination for snake bites.

[msvette2u]

Does your vet carry the vaccine? One of our vets (only one) has an ad in the front room advertising it.
We've not done it because we don't go out and about so much hiking and what-not, where there's rattlers known to hang out.

[Zeeva]

I'm not sure what it does. We had rattlers when I was in Las Vegas but I didn't go hiking enough with my dogs to bother with a vaccination.

[mandiah89]

Luckily I dont live anywhere near poisonous snakes!

[Bear GSD]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Does your vet carry the vaccine? One of our vets (only one) has an ad in the front room advertising it.
We've not done it because we don't go out and about so much hiking and what-not, where there's rattlers known to hang out.

All of the vets in our area carry the vaccine but I don't know anything about it or who makes it. I'm going to ask the vet when I talk to him on Friday, but was wondering if anyone here has any experience with it.
I am not big on a lot of vaccines but since there are a lot of rattlesnakes in my area and I almost always hear of one or two dogs getting bitten in my neighborhood it is something I thought I should look into.

[msvette2u]

It's a good idea. I think the main thing is potential for allergic reaction.

[Bear GSD]

Originally Posted by Zeeva

I'm not sure what it does. We had rattlers when I was in Las Vegas but I didn't go hiking enough with my dogs to bother with a vaccination.

Amina, supposedly it is supposed to lessen the severity of the bite and give you a little extra time to get to the vet for the full anti-venom dose.
I'm just worried because I don't know much about the vaccine and if there would be any potential side effects or allergic reactions.

[Heidigsd]

Here is the vaccine: Red Rock Biologics, Rattlesnake Vaccines

Since I almost stepped on a rattle snake last year in my yard I asked our vet about giving it to Nikki and he said absolutely not due to her health issues. He did tell me that he does give it to his dogs but that treatment still pretty much remains the same if they are vaccinted for it or not.

P.S.: I am installing a snake fence this year

Michaela

[Bear GSD]

Originally Posted by Heidigsd

Here is the vaccine: Red Rock Biologics, Rattlesnake Vaccines

Since I almost stepped on a rattle snake last year in my yard I asked our vet about giving it to Nikki and he said absolutely not due to her health issues. He did tell me that he does give it to his dogs but that treatment still pretty much remains the same if they are vaccinted for it or not.

P.S.: I am installing a snake fence this year

Michaela

Thanks for the link. I'll ask if that's the one they use. Did your vet mention any side effects?
I would install a snake fence if I could but my house faces open space and there's nothing to hold them back. I have found snakes in my garage and pretty much everywhere in my area.
The only ones that disturb me are the really young ones. They don't give you much of a warning and will give you a full dose of venom.