Rattlesnake Vaccines

[Doodle & Hound]

UPDATE 

My Vet called and said she doesn’t recommend the Rattlesnake Vaccine.   There is no proof that it helps. It is always an emergency and local vets have the medical treatment required.  She does, however, recommend the Canine Flu vaccine.    

Thanks for all your responses. 

read through some older posts from years ago.  We live in an area that has all types of critters. It’s neasring the time that rattlesnakes start showing up. We’ve never seen one in our yard but I worry that Oliver, 18 months old runs, playing and goes into the the bushes.     My vet recommended the Vaccine, however I can’t find any scientific study supporting the efficacy.   What would you do?  

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I live in a similar area.  Both Roo and Tigger had rattlesnake aversion therapy twice, a year apart.  I will have my new puppy take it the next time it is offered locally.  It did work for Roo and Tigger as we have had rattlesrs in our yard and they alerted me.  They are taught to avoid the smell and therefore the snake.  They are also taught how to get to me without going to near the snake.  Muzzled rattlesnakes are used for training, first  shed snakeskin and a bunch of baby snakes, then a big snake.  Provided through a local vet for a nominal fee.

[Diane and Alma]

I know this is a serious discussion but I had to laugh at the image in my mind of a muzzled rattlesnake.

[Leslie J]

I thought the same thing!!! Visions of a miniature dog muzzle strapped onto the rattlesnake nose!

[Diane and Alma]

I pitty the poor guy who has to put the muzzle on the snake - Yikes!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

How would you like to do that job?!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have no personal experience with it, but from the many discussions we have had on the topic here over the years, I think the avoidance classes/training would be more effective than the vaccine. I also know of at least one dog who had a bad reaction to the vaccine. 
Here's one of the many past discussions about the avoidance clinics: http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/rattlesnake-avoidance-clinic

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I wish that there was some sort of aversion training to teach my dogs to avoid the toxic bufo toads that are down here in south Florida. I think that if I lived in an area with rattlers, I would definitely take my dogs to be trained to leave them alone and alert me -- though, I don't know what I would do if I saw one in my yard. 

[Stacy]

Scream a lot? I'm pretty sure that's what I would do. 

[DonMarie and Picco]

The vaccine just buys you some time to get help.  I haven't seen any adverse reactions in Picco at all since he's been getting the vaccine for about 3 years now.  I hike with friends that have gone though the aversion training with their dogs but sometimes we hike alone so I'd like to take the class.  The good trainer just retired when I was ready to sign up so I'm waiting till they get a new one.  I've heard that there are so many trainers that get carried away with using shock collars improperly so I'm being picky. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good for you. 

[Nancy & Echo]

This site says there are no studies that show efficacy of the canine snake vaccine. http://avs4pets.com/snakebite/, and the UC Davis vet school says that although antibodies are produced, according to the manufacturer there are no further studies on efficacy. http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/article.cfm?id=1883  The UC site says the vaccine is well tolerated (<1% incidence of adverse effects) , but that antivenom is still indicated if a vaccinated dog is bitten.

Antivenom, as opposed to vaccination, which, besides in a severe shortage, also can be very costly: On the web I saw ranges from $300-$1000 per vial for veterinary use (? written in approximately 2014?) https://vetgirlontherun.com/veterinary-continuing-education-update-..., to up to $39K for a vial for HUMANS in Arizona, and was about $60K  (for humans) just a few years ago. (Not sure of the current price.)  The UC site  says the vaccine costs roughly $20-$40.  (Not sure when the UC site article was written.)

This Pubmed article claimed that antivenom helped, and that about 8 out of 236 snake bites in dogs died. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26341419

So if the vaccine provides ANY protection against using antivenom, then it may be worth it if the dog is in an area where they are constantly exposed.  I gather they need boosters at least every 6 months or so. 

[DonMarie and Picco]

We get vaccine in April and it's good for 6 months. That's all we have to worry about here. I didn't know there was anything for humans!