Rattlesnake Vaccine?

Comments

• StaticNfuzz

  July 2008 edited November -1

  For clarification do you mean antivenom vaccine? For you or the dog? I would find out the manufacture and investigate the side effects per their information.
  
  Snf
• ddowdemers

  July 2008 edited November -1

  I have heard pros and cons regarding the vaccine. I would check with your vet and not the pet store.
  We took Tenji to rattlesnake avoidance school and we walk in the county park (San Dieguito Cnty. Park in San Diego), every day.
• Harlow

  July 2008 edited November -1

  The rattlesnake vaccine just gives you time to get your dog to the vet for the anitvenom. Here's one story:
  http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080705/news_1mc5rattle.html
  
  My friends with Rescue greyhounds live out in the backcountry and they have their dogs vaccinated without any side effects. And if you know greyhounds, they have all kinds of reactions to various compounds.
• StaticNfuzz

  July 2008 edited November -1

  Interesting...Thanks for the link Harlow. From reading I get the impression that it is only for one specific type of rattler.....It was not really clear on that from the text. Hummmm....I know FL also has a lot of Rattlers and lots of dogs get bitten there too who venture into the saw brush.
  
  Snf
• myamamo

  July 2008 edited November -1

  Thank you for your responses... I think I'll avoid getting Winnie vaccinated for Rattlesnakes, for now. I ended up doing more research on it and learned that it is not recommended per the UC Davis veterinarian guide.
  
  Canine Rattlesnake Vaccine
  
  The canine rattlesnake vaccine comprises venom components from Crotalus atrox (western diamondback). Although a rattlesnake vaccine may be potentially useful for dogs that frequently encounter rattlesnakes, currently we are unable to recommend this vaccine because of insufficient information regarding the efficacy of the vaccine in dogs. Dogs develop neutralizing antibody titers to C. atrox venom, and may also develop antibody titers to components of other rattlesnake venoms, but research in this area is ongoing. Owners of vaccinated dogs must still seek veterinary care immediately in the event of a bite, because 1) the type of snake is often unknown; 2) antibody titers may be overwhelmed in the face of severe envenomation, and 3) an individual dog may lack sufficient protection depending on its response to the vaccine and the time elapsed since vaccination. According to the manufacturer, to date, rare vaccinated dogs have died following a bite when there were substantial delays (12-24 hours) in seeking treatment. Recommendations for booster vaccination are still under development, but it appears that adequate titers do not persist beyond one year after vaccination. Adverse reactions appear to be low and consistent with those resulting from vaccination with other products available on the market. The product license is currently conditional as efficacy and potency have not been fully demonstrated. Based on existing evidence, the UC Davis VMTH does not currently recommend routine vaccination of dogs for rattlesnake envenomation, and the vaccine is not stocked by our pharmacy.
  
  http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/genmed/vaccinproto.html
  
  Thanks again!