rattlesnake vaccine

[dirty]

i was at the vets today to get my dog his shots. there was a flyer on the wall advertising a rattlesnake vaccine. has
anyone had any experience with or heard of it?

[starfire]

No but mine dog's shots are due next month.
I am going to try to find about this fiirst.

Do you have rattle snakes in your area?

[Kathy]

I'd never heard of that vaccine so I had to look it up.
Here's what I found. I quoted the first site but I'll just post the link to the other one.

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 licence 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.

www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/genmed/vaccinproto.html

www.hvjournal.com/articles.php?id=1794

[starfire]

Thanks! I am going to ask my vet about it next month. OH Great more $$$ if she has to have it

[Kathy]

I think once I move to TX it might be a good idea for any dogs I get. Not as a complete safety net but one more way to protect my critters from a known threat. That area of TX has 3 types of rattlesnakes-so it probably is a good idea.

I wonder how much it costs?

I know that the copperhead antivenom at the vets is $130 but the odd part is the exact same antivenom is used for humans and the ER charges $1100 just for the shot-not the ER visit and doctors.
I always told my family-if I get bit go to the vets and bring back the $130 version.

[Deleted]

Kathy, are you serious? It's the same exact stuff?

Argh...things like that make me so mad

/VM

[dirty]

i haven't seen any on my property. i have seen some at the different places i've worked. i thought i saw that they needed 2 shots at 18$ a piece.

[juju]

It's been around now for a couple of years, if I remember right. My vet says it's a really good thing. It cost about $25 to $35 a shot depending on your vet & area, it varies this much just in this town from vet to vet. But this is what it is running in my area.

If your dog is out and about a lot and can get ahold of snakes, I would say, invest in the shot, could save your dogs life according to my vet.

[Deleted]

dirty said:

i was at the vets today to get my dog his shots. there was a flyer on the wall advertising a rattlesnake vaccine. has
anyone had any experience with or heard of it?

Unfortunately, I have. My dog Grit got bit by one (copperhead). I took him to the doctor just in time. He gave him a shot and he is great.BTW this happened last year. The crazy thing crawled in the dog kennel. I think the snake was in his feeder because he wouldn't go near his galvanized feeder.
We had to buy him a plastic feeder so he would eat.
The vet told me how much it would cost for a human to go to the er to get a shot. So, I have decided that if I am ever bit, I'm going to the vet.
tnborn