(photo source: Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News, stgeorgeutah.com)
The Rattlesnake Vaccine helps to prevent injury and even death from rattlesnake bites but stimulating your dog's immune system. It helps your dog produce antibodies that can effectively neutralize rattlesnake venom. Over time these antibodies acclimate to their normal immune system and are therefore available if your dog is bitten.
There are also several things you can do to try and prevent your dog from getting bitten. Some ideas include:
- Always keep your dog on a leash when outside exploring
- Avoid letting your dog wander into tall grass or shrubbery where snakes may be resting out of eyesight
- If you do encounter a rattlesnake, stay a minimum of 10 feet away from it
- Keep the grass in your yards cut short, and clean up any yard clutter (wood, leaves, etc) that could be an ideal hiding spot for snakes
- Picking up food off the ground and securely closing your trash cans keeps small rodents away, therefore keeping away the snakes that may try to prey on them
- Fill in any small holes around fences and walls that snakes could enter your yard through
Be sure to use these tips to keep you and your favorite doggy companions safe as you enjoy the outdoors this season!
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