Any dog owners?

pink_bubbly

We'll be bringing Carl, the pup, with us to AZ. Do people get their dogs rattlesnake vaccines? Is there such a thing? Any other special vaccines he might need?

JenniferBultman

Honestly- my vet has never even mentioned this. My dog gets a bordetella (sp) vaccine every 6 months- but only because she goes to day camp. Otherwise it's just the norm- rabies every 3 years, and something else that's has the septo vaccine blended in. Where did you read about a rattlesnake vaccine?

SimplyMistaken

I have read unless you are roaming the desert and hiking constantly I would not worry about it.  You will want to read up on desert fever however.  That is something to keep an eye out for. 

jajsundevil

I've never heard of a preventative rattlesnake vaccine, only the treatment they'd need if they actually got bit.  I think it would be difficult to have an effective vaccine for that since snake venom varies.  Like Jen said we only do the routine vaccines.

If you're going to be spending a lot of time out doors I'd have him up to date on his flee / tick treatment but I don't think we get a lot of those.

Tayrusso

Neither of our dogs have the rattlesnake vaccine. 

tarynmichelle

Never heard of a rattlesnake vaccine either! My pups just had their bordatella and distemper shots, and obviously are up to date on their rabies at the moment. My vet always talks about heartworm and how it has become more and more prevalent in AZ, so we also get them an annual heartworm blood test and give them a heartworm pill every month. Other than that just make sure you go to the Maricopa County ACC website and get your dog licensed sometime before you get down here! Although it isn't enforced as much as I wish it was, most dog parks required your pet to have proper tags.

pink_bubbly

jajsundevil:

I think it would be difficult to have an effective vaccine for that since snake venom varies. 

A current coworker of mine mentioned it. She had heard of it through her in-laws who live in Colorado. They had told her that the vaccine would be specific to location due to the variations in snake venom. Thanks for the input! I don't expect to be roaming the desert, but am hoping to get in some hiking. 

foundmydr1

I saw about the vaccine when I lived up North but never did it. If I recall correctly it was significantly more expensive than one would imagine but you could call around some Scottsdale Vets to inquire since those homes are often open to the desert.
My friend however DID take her dogs to rattlesnake training which might be a better solution.  The training involved crates/boxes overturned in a field, some of which had a snake in them.  The trainer allows the dogs to sniff the boxes and once they sniff a box she knows has a snake in it the dog gets either a small shock on a collar or maybe a scary whistle (I can't remember which or what but it was a disincentive tool) so that eventually, on subsequent visits they would smell that snake smell and instantly recoil and retreat.  If you can't find this I can email her to get the name of the trainer.

Better that our dogs avoid than hope a specific vaccine worked on a specific type of snake, you know?

timark99

Didn't know they made rattlesnake vaccines. I grew up outside of town where we saw rattlesnakes every summer, our dogs would get bit,but unless they were smaller dogs like under 30 lbs we never treated them. Their muzzle would be swollen and sore for a few days but it would go down and they were never the worse for wear. If anything they learned what rattlesnakes were by the single bite and would usually bark to warn us if one was too close to the house but didn't get bit again unless they tried to charge the snake to protect us. My small dog did get it once he was probably only 10 lbs or so and we took him to the vet when it happened he was pretty sick but pulled through after a few days stay. My dogs just get regular vaccines like the ones mentioned in pp, but read up on valley fever it is a problem for people but i have known several friends whose dogs have caught that and it can be a lengthy and pricey treatment.

jj4ever04

we just get regular vacines for our dogs which are vet recomended. they've never gotten bit by a rattlesnake. valley fever is a problem in the southwest but it comes from the dirt so not really preventable but it is treatable. my pup got it a year ago and on the proper meds recovered just fine

Bosanquet

There is a rattlesnake vaccine. My vet only recommends if you do a lot of hiking or are in the desert/mountains a lot. I wouldn't worry about it otherwise. Do watch for Valley Fever. It is a fungus that is found in the dirt and due to dogs having their noses in the dirt so much, it's easy for them to get it into their lungs. Our dog has valley fever and it's quite the ordeal to get them through it. Just keep an eye on your dog and if they start coming up with strange symptoms, get them to the doc for a blood test.