My Dog Was Bit By A Rattlesnake – What Do I Do?

First things first – if you think or know that your dog was bitten by a rattlesnake, this is an emergency and you should take them to the emergency vet immediately. Find a VEG location near you and feel free to call ahead to speak with a doctor.

Throughout the warmer months of the year, most of us are out hiking and enjoying nature. One thing that we need to be aware of is rattlesnakes. These reptiles come out of hibernation during the warmer months of the year (i.e., April through September in most parts of the country) to gather food, bask in the sunlight, and prepare for the next hibernation. Rattlesnakes can be found in all sorts of habitats, from deserts to forests, grasslands to swamps.

Do you know what to do if a rattlesnake bites your dog? Do you know how to recognize if a rattlesnake has bitten your dog? In this article, we’ll give you all the basic information on preventative steps, and action to take if your dog encounters a rattlesnake.

Signs and Symptoms of Rattlesnake Bites in Dogs

Before you learn what to do in the case of a dog rattlesnake bite, you should first learn to recognize the symptoms specific to rattlesnake bites over other types of snake bites. This information can help you narrow down what snake has bitten your dog, and may help your emergency veterinarian better understand your dog’s condition.

If a snake bites your pet, and you suspect it is venomous, it is always better to seek medical attention immediately. Get your pet checked out, its better to be safe than to wait and be sorry.

Two Separate Puncture Wounds from Fangs with Increased Bleeding

For a dog rattlesnake bite, you will likely see two wounds from the snake’s two large fangs, spaced evenly apart from each other. If the wound has already swollen significantly, however, you may not see these marks.

The bite may be bleeding an excessive amount if it is from a rattlesnake. This is in part due to the anticoagulant properties of the venom, which disrupts the body’s normal clotting mechanisms. If untreated, the bleeding can become uncontrolled leading to shock and possible death.

Excessive Swelling After Snake Bite

Rattlesnake bites are generally “hemotoxic”. This means that once a rattlesnake bites something, the toxin within the venom will cause disruption to the blood vessels. The disruption of those vessels will cause the body part to swell a considerable amount, and can lead to necrosis. Swelling from rattlesnake bites tend to be rapid, but can continue for up to 36 hours.

Dog Showing Signs of Pain After a Snake Bite

A dog rattlesnake bite is less painful than some other types of snake bites, however is still quite painful. The majority of rattlesnake bites take place on either the head/face, or extremities of your pet. As you know, these bites can cause swelling, and tissue damage from the venom. This will contribute to the discomfort associated with rattlesnake bites.

Weakness or Neurological Abnormalities from Snake Bite

Rattlesnake bites, from certain types of rattlesnakes, may also cause changes within the central nervous system. These changes can be seen outwardly as ataxia, paresis, weakness, and paralysis.

What to Do if a Rattlesnake Bites Your Dog

The information in this section will give you an idea of what immediate action to take for a dog rattlesnake bite. When you act fast, you’re more likely to save your dog’s life and prevent them from increased suffering.

Leave the Rattlesnake Alone

There’s no need to bring the snake or even take a picture of it for your vet. Don’t try to move the snake or otherwise make it leave. You may risk being bitten or causing your dog to be bitten again.

Move Your Dog Away from the Snake Immediately

You may have to pick up your dog and carry them, or you may have to carefully drag them away. Try to remain calm as you determine the best way to move your pet without causing more pain from the bite wound.

Dog Bit by a Rattler? Call an Emergency Vet Right Away

Call us and speak with an emergency veterinarian immediately! Perform this step as soon as you and your dog are safely away from the snake. The veterinarians at VEG are available 24/7, no appointment needed.

How to Position Dog After Rattlesnake Bite

Stay calm as you talk to the veterinarian and explain what happened.

Place your dog in a comfortable position. Keeping the bite wound lower than the heart is a plus, but may be difficult if it is a body wound. When you’ve finished talking to your veterinarian, take your dog to the veterinary hospital right away.

Go to VEG ER for Pets and Bring Someone to Help You

Keep in mind that you should bring someone along to help you with your dog in the car if at all possible. This is to monitor the pet while driving to the hospital, or call the veterinarian while one person is already driving.

If no one is with you, we can quickly help get your pet out of the vehicle once you arrive at the hospital.

Long-Term Care for Your Dog’s Rattlesnake Bite

After you’ve taken your dog to the vet for their rattlesnake bite, you will need to keep up with long-term care. Your veterinarian will give you more specific information about what to do for your dog and which treatments are best for them.

This information can help you understand what to expect from your veterinarian.

Antivenom to Prevent Additional Harm

Your veterinarian will likely give your dog antivenom to keep the rattlesnake bite from causing any more harm, and acts to inactivate the snake’s venom.

This injection is best administered within 4 hours after a bite, and is given within fluids. The veterinarian will also do anything required to stabilize your dog and will provide treatment for secondary issues that are common after rattlesnake bites.

Antibiotics to Prevent Infection After Rattlesnake Bite

From there, the veterinarian will clean the wound generously. The veterinarian may give your dog antibiotics if there is evidence of necrosis or abscess, but this is not always the case.

There may be other treatments your dog needs, such as fluid therapy, blood products, and pain management. Your dog will also need monitoring of blood values and laboratory tests, while your pet is recovering from its rattlesnake bite.

Your veterinarian will let you know for sure depending on the severity of the bite and the reaction in your dog.

Make Sure Your Dog Rests While They Heal

Once you have your dog back home, it’s crucial that they rest for a couple of weeks. Do not exercise them or allow them to over-exert themselves any more than is absolutely necessary. While they may go on short leashed walks to do their business outside, they needs to take it easy otherwise.

Additionally, make sure to follow all recommendations of medications and e-collar wearing laid out by your veterinarian.

How to Prevent a Rattlesnake Bite in Dogs

The best way to deal with a dog rattlesnake bite is to prevent it from happening altogether! Although this may not be completely possible, a little prevention goes a long way.

The first step in prevention is to recognize it is a rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes come from the etiology Crotalinae. This group of snakes has a characteristic broad triangular shaped head, long movable fangs, and as most of us know, rattlesnakes have a rattle at the end of their body. When a rattlesnake is afraid or defensive, it shakes the end of its tail quickly, causing a rattling noise that gives the snake its common name.

Keep these tips in mind to prevent future rattlesnake bites.

Avoid Rattlesnake Habitats

The best way to prevent a rattlesnake biting your dog is to avoid areas where rattlesnakes are common. Rattlesnake bits often occur on trails, wooded areas, ranches, desert terrain and grasslands, are most commonly found in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, California, Texas, Colorado, Florida and Nevada, but they can occur in many areas where rattlesnakes are native.

Keep Your Dog on a Leash

If you do choose to walk or hike with your dog in these habitats, it is best to keep your dog on a leash and be extra cautious. Usually you can hear a rattlesnake nearby, so avoid wearing headphones and be aware of your surroundings.

Keep Your Dog from Free-Roaming in the Woods

Never let your dog free-roam in the woods, anywhere the grass has grown very high, or sniffing around rocks. These areas are prone to snakes.

Keep an Eye on Your Dog When Outside

If you live in a snake-infested area, make sure your dog is observed when spending time in the yard. Snakes can be positioned in tall grass or weeds, or hiding in drainpipes, so monitoring your dog during outdoor time.

Rattlesnake Aversion Training for Dogs

If you live in one of these high-risk areas, consider enrolling your dog in rattlesnake aversion training. These programs teach dogs to recognize and avoid the sound, smell, and sight of snakes.

Can I Get a Rattlesnake Vaccine for my Dog?

While there was a rattlesnake vaccine for dogs on the market for close to two decades, it recently lost its conditional status with the USDA and is currently not available. This vaccine was met with some skepticism amongst veterinarians as it had little data to support its efficacy and generally was not something recommended by the veterinarians at VEG. A medical study conducted on animals that were vaccinated and those that were not showed: 

• there was no difference in clinical signs at the time of presentation

• dogs who were vaccinated still needed treatment with antivenom - the number of vials was not different than those who did not receive the vaccine.

• the vaccine did not shorten the duration of hospitalization compared to those who were unvaccinated.  
  

The study concluded that there was not a protective effect from the vaccine.

Call VEG Emergency Vet for Dog Rattlesnake Bites

With this information in mind, you should be ready to respond to dog rattlesnake bites. It is crucial to understand the best way to respond if your dog is bitten as well as what you can expect from your veterinarian when you arrive.

The experienced team of veterinarians at VEG are here for you and your dog when they get bitten by a rattlesnake. We’re equipped to handle any emergency situation at all of our VEG locations and are always available for you and your pet when you need us most!