Rattlesnake Safety with Your Dog
Exploring nature in its pure form means understanding the dangers that exist in it - one of which being the rattlesnake. These reptiles play a crucial part in desert and forest ecosystems, but aren’t loved by hikers (especially the doggy-loving hikers), as their bites are venomous. Hiking in an area with rattlesnakes is no reason to panic- there are ways to work with them, so that us, our dog, and the snakes can coexist peacefully!
Rattlesnake Identification
Rattlesnakes: Understanding which snakes are venomous and which are not is an important safety feature for you and your pup. Rattlesnakes are characterized by their triangular head, diamond pattern on scales, and of course, end-of-tail rattle. They can resemble gopher snakes, but have a larger, more triangular head and thicker body than the gopher snake.
Rattlesnake Bites: A rattlesnake bite will have two puncture wounds spaced apart. If the area has swollen significantly, the bite marks may not be visible. A bitten dog will likely exhibit pain behaviors on the bitten area, including limping or flinching. They may also collapse, vomit, shake, drool, or act uncharacteristically weak following a bite.
Prevention Measures
Once you’re aware of the general risk that you could encounter a rattlesnake, it’s good practice to take precautions during your excursions.
1) Stay on trail. Rattlesnakes need to sun themselves to keep a warm internal temperature, often do so near brush and tall grasses. Where snakes are high in population, it’s not uncommon to see them sunbathing on the trail, in high brush right next to the trail, or halfway in between. When cooling down, snakes will hide out under logs, rocky crevices, and wood piles. It may seem obvious to stay on trail in high snake-populated areas, but it’s up to you to communicate this with your dog!
2) Know your area. Some regions, neighborhoods, and trails have different snake types and frequency. Check with your hiking buddies, neighbors, barista at your favorite coffee shop, or other locals about the wildlife in your area before letting your dog explore off leash! However, it’s possible a rattlesnake may pop up even where they’re not considered “abundant”- rattlesnakes can be found in almost every part of the continental United States.
3) Rattlesnake Aversion Therapy. Aversion therapy is a more proactive measure to rattlesnake bite prevention. A dog’s natural instinct upon seeing a snake may be to approach and sniff to further investigate- an incredibly risky behavior. Aversion therapy teaches dogs to avoid rattlesnakes through use of low-level stimulation from an electric collar. The collar simulates a bite of the snake, with the goal of establishing an association between snake movements, sound, and smell with the sensation of a bite. After training, your dog will avoid snakes and can even alert you of their presence!
However, Aversion Therapy is not always the right path to take for every dog. While a worthwhile option, some dog owners and dog-behavioral specialists believe that aversion therapy is a form of negative-reinforcement training which is seen as cruel to some. If you follow positive-reinforcement training, aversion therapy may not be something that works for you or your dog. As always, you know your pup best, so it is up to you to make these decisions.
An important note about e-collars: The thought of an electric collar on a dog can be, very understandably, a huge turnoff to dog owners. It’s important to understand the sensation that dogs will experience with the collar. E-collars should never cause a burning sensation on your dog, but will cause a contracting feeling on their muscles- comparable to a T.E.N.S therapeutic unit, commonly used in chiropractic and other muscle therapies. The most important feature of Aversion Therapy is how comfortable your dog is with the process and the trainers, so talk to your trainer and vet to make sure the trainer is the best fit for you!
Rattlesnake Aversion Therapy Options
A quick Google search can help you find a local, trusted expert to help your pup learn to avoid snakes. We recommend thoroughly vetting them to ensure their practices are right for you and your pup.
4) Vaccination. Generally after 4 months, your vetrination will recommend that your dog get vaccinated. Rattlesnake vaccinations support your dog’s immune system like all other vaccines do- your dog will build an immune response specifically to rattlesnake venom, making an encounter with the venom less dangerous to your dog. Consider talking to your vet about a rattlesnake vaccine if your dog doesn’t already have one!
What To Do if Your Dog is Bitten
Around 80% of dogs survive a rattlesnake bite if the response is quick. Remain as calm as possible and follow these steps immediately.
1) Move yourself and your dog away from the snake. Do not try to kill, harm, or maim the snake in any way, with the risk of placing yourself and your dog in danger of (another) bite.
2) Contact and seek emergency medical care. Do not take the time attempting to clean, treat, or assess the wound, but find the closest emergency pet care clinic closest to you. Follow the rest of the steps on the way to emergency care.
3) Remove accessories from your dog. The damaged limb will likely swell, and anything tied around your dog’s limbs (collars, harnesses, bandanas, etc.)
4) Keep the wound below the heart. Limbs below the heart need to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, so keeping the injured limb below the heart will slow down the rate at which the venom will spread.
5) Follow all veterinarian treatment instructions. Your dog will likely be prescribed an antibiotic for the wound.