Rattlesnakes live in the hills and grassy edges around Solano and Yolo counties, and they are most active in warm weather. Most bites happen on hikes, and a few steps ahead of time save minutes later.
What to do in the first minutes
- Stay calm and keep your dog calm and still. Carry the dog if you are on a trail.
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic and ask whether it stocks antivenom; drive farther if it does not.
- Remove the collar before swelling begins.
- Do not try to identify, catch or kill the snake. A photo from a safe distance is plenty.
- Get to the clinic. Treatment works best early, but antivenom can still help hours later.
What not to do
The AKC lists the old remedies that do not work: do not apply a tourniquet, do not try to suck out venom, and do not use ice. Benadryl, anti-inflammatories and steroids are not effective substitutes for antivenom.
Signs of a bite
Look for pain (crying, hiding), swelling that can show up within minutes and is often followed by bruising, puncture marks that may be hidden by fur, and vomiting or diarrhea soon after. Some bites are dry, but only a veterinarian should decide that.
What the evidence says about the vaccine
A 2014 study of 82 dogs treated with antivenin at five Southern California hospitals compared vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs and found no statistically significant difference in outcomes, as the authors reported in Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports. The AKC advises that a vaccine cannot act fast enough against the dose in a bite. Talk to your own veterinarian if you hike in snake country.
Prevention and boarding
- Know which venomous snakes live where you walk, and keep dogs out of tall grass, brush and holes.
- Clear woodpiles, trash and leaf litter near the house to reduce hiding places.
- Keep dogs close on warm evenings, when snakes are most active.
- Tell the kennel at drop-off if your dog was bitten recently or has a swollen limb.
- Dogs staying at Happy Paws use indoor/outdoor runs, fenced play areas and a grass field, and walks are included.