Ed Note: Cal Cadmus DVM has been involved in
Field Trials for more than 20 years and won the '86 National Amateur
Championship with NAFC-FC Winsom Cargo. His office is located in Oakdale,
California where he specializes in TPLO repair (cruciate injury).
THE ISSUE
Recently, I received a call from a professional
retriever trainer who noticed that one of his dogs was suddenly limping.
He went on to
say that the leg was starting to swell and thought it could be
a rattlesnake bite. He got "Hummer" in to see us and we immediately
started treatment. The dog did fine and will soon be back in training.
Here
are some facts to remember when working your retriever in rattlesnake
country. |
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ANSWER
First, like foxtails, prevention is the
best form of treatment. Remember, the spring and summer months
are when the snakes are most likely to be active. Rattlesnakes
inhabit dry rocky locations. They may also be found under old wooden
structures, like cattle feeders. Small rodents, such as ground
squirrels, are their main source of food; so naturally, places
with high concentrations of rodents will also contain high numbers
of snakes. Areas such as lush irrigated pastures are far safer
to train your dog.
There are several factors that contribute to the severity of a bite. The toxicity
and quantity of the venom are primarily responsible for the level of damage to
the tissues. It is important to note that each of the nine subspecies of rattlesnakes
varies substantially in the amount of toxin each produces. Other factors include:
size of the victim, location of the bite, the elapsed time from the initial bite
to treatment and the excitement level and physical activity of the victims
Immediate treatment should be centered upon keeping the victim calm and quiet
while transporting them to the nearest veterinary facility. Additionally, first
aid measures such as incision and suction of the wound are both ineffective and
counterproductive. In our practice, we center therapy on high levels of intravenous
fluids. This treatment counters hypovolemic shock, maintains perfusion of the
affected tissue and markedly decreases post-bite tissue necrosis. Pain medication
and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy are also employed.
Lastly, a word about the use of antivenin. A recent study has been conducted
at Colorado State University, School of Veterinary Medicine. The results of this
study indicate that in dogs that were bitten by Prairie Rattlesnakes no significant
benefits were noted in those that received antivenin in addition to standard
therapy. There was however a substantial increase in cost of treatment to the
victims owners
The good news is; like humans, the vast majority of dogs bitten by rattlesnakes
survive, especially, when rapid and aggressive treatment is instituted.
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