I know they can be taught avoidance behaviors with snake-proofing training, but there is a product out there from Red Rock Biologics that supposedly primes your dog's immune system against crotalus toxin. E. Donnall Thomas says the hard data is sketchy. Has anyone used this and had a dog bitten? How did it do?

http://redrockbiologics.com/

http://shootingsportsman.com/snake-safe/

Bill:

Rattlesnakes vs dogs is very common here in the Prescott, Az area, and as a result, rattlesnake vaccine is very common and very popular. My dogs get vaccinated every year. I'll have to look at my records to see if what they get is the same as the one on your link.

Dogs are vaccinated initially and then given boosters each spring. The shots are inexpensive at $35.

Some dogs will have a mild allergic reaction to the vaccine. One of my labs responds with a large bump at the injection site and a couple of days of lethargy, but is fine thereafter. My other lab shows no reaction.

Local vets caution not to be too optimistic, as the vaccine has its limitations. At the least it will give owners more time to reach treatment. It will NOT help in mitigating necrosis or infection, nor is it effective against neuro-toxic venom such as that found in the Mojave Green rattlesnake, which is common in my area. Most Mojave Green bites with any significant level of envenomation are fatal to canines.

My vet says the bottom line is that bites depend on the amount of venom injected, the size and health of the dog, the location of the bite, and the species of snake.

But at $35 a pop, why wouldn't a responsible dog owner go for it?

Hope this helps.

I'm pretty sure there is just the one vaccine, and it is best for the western diamondback if I recall correctly. They have the information up on their website - red rock - and efficacy does vary with species. Like the Mojave Green, as Tom mentions.

There is a snake-breaking seminar one of the dog clubs puts on every year up near Santa Fe. I hear about it, but I don't have the contact off hand.

Your headed for Alamogordo? I've got a friend down there who just lost his Labrador and was looking for a Brittany a month ago. When you get there, drop me a PM and I'll put you two in touch.

Thanks guys.
Chuck, I found a Brittany breeder in Mimbres -- Brushbuster Brittanies. I am calling him today about upcoming litters. Will do due dilligence, of course. Will also check in with the Central New Mexico Brittany Club in ABQ.

I think you've found the right folks. One of the guys in the Albuquerque Retriever Club had been a Brittany guy and judges for the Brittany Club. He's a mainstay of the retriever club too. And if you get to Mimbres, don't forget Mearns quail

I have a Brittany that has been given the vaccine since she was 6 months old she is now 6. She was also trained for snake avoidance in AZ. She was bitten by a rattlesnake of unknown type this past March near Phoenix. She was bitten in the rear leg on a Sunday evening, did not see the snake so no idea of what kind. She showed no symptoms of snake bite Sunday night or most of the day on Monday, even going for a long run Monday morning. Monday night she started to favor her leg. Tuesday morning her leg was swollen and she would not put weight on it so off to the Vet. Vet did some tests and said rattlesnake bite and that she needed antivenom. They suggested I leave her at the Vet and pickup next day, but called 3 hours later and said she had responded well to just 1 vial of antivenom and she could go home. The next day she was putting weight on her leg and 3 days later she was back to normal.

I asked the Vet if the lack of usual symptoms and quick recovery was due to the vaccine and could not get any comment. I think it played a big role but who knows.

As far as the avoidance training I think it works and the dog was just unlucky and ran over a snake and got bit or was retreating from it and got nailed in the rear leg.

This was my first year wintering in AZ.

If it were me I would do avoidance training and use the vaccine, I think Red Rock is the only supplier as it is the vaccine my dogs get. I have two Brits and so far the one has avoided snake encounters.

BigB, the vaccine is pretty affordable. My thought is that it is cheap insurance, but I do wish there were more data on how well it actually works.

Depends on the type of rattlesnake . We have prairie rattle snakes out here so antivenin for a diamond back might not be as effective. Some immunity is better than no immunity

Just heard from a friend who is a veterinarian in central Oregon. Here is his take on Red Rock vaccine:

I will try to get to that thread and see what is being said, however I do administer a number of rattlesnake vaccines every year. The first dog I vaccinated with it got bit in the face by a small snake about 2 weeks after the completion of the series. That was a West Highland White terrier that lived about 45 minutes from my clinic. If it had not been vaccinated it would have most likely been dead by the time they got it to the clinic, however it just needed minimal treatment and went home the next day. Needless to say I am a believer. Last year I had a 2 week run where we had 6 dogs bit by rattlesnakes, 3 were vaccinated, 3 were not. The three that were vaccinated got fluids antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication and went home in 12-24 hours. The three that were not vaccinated all lived but they had a minimum of 3 days in hospital and had to be treated with anti-venom which is horrendously expensive so while I got them through it their owners had bills about 4 times higher than the ones that were vaccinated.


Twilli, the one North American pit viper whose venom is really chemically different is the Mojave rattlesnake. The coral is whole 'nother kettle of fish, of course.