As for the vaccination series for your dogs to protect them from snakebite – The current information shows that the vaccinations do no harm but have yet to be proven to do much good. So, it might help but is more of an $800 peace of mind action. Even with the vaccination you will have to take the dog to the veterinarian in the event of a snakebite. They will still need to do blood panels, supportive therapy (ie fluids, pain management etc) and quite possibly antivenom therapy.

So, I think I can answer your question best by saying that my dogs live in a fenced yard where I have found a rattlesnake, which means rattlers live in the area but I have only found the one. I have not had them vaccinated and have no plans to so at this time. I am not yet sold on the benefit.
Additionally, they don’t identify what it means when they say “recently vaccinated” We can assume that the antibodies would require a booster shot far more frequently than the recommended dosages to prevent any real protection. It makes me thing they would likely require frequent boosters.

The following is taken from the manufacturer’s website.

“The vaccine stimulates your dog’s own immunity. This process makes vaccination safer than antivenom treatment. Protective antibodies made by your dog in response to the vaccine start neutralizing venom immediately. On average, antibody levels in recently vaccinated dogs are comparable to treatment with three vials of antivenom. This means vaccinated dogs should experience less pain and a reduced risk of permanent injury from rattlesnake bite.

Snakebite is always an emergency. Even after your dog is vaccinated against rattlesnake venom, she should be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation and care as soon as possible following snakebite. Even bites by non-venomous snakes can lead to serious infections and antibiotic treatment may be needed. A veterinarian can determine if your dog is sufficiently protected for the specific type of snake involved and the amount of venom injected, or whether additional medical treatment would be helpful.”
Thanks for asking, I am sure others have the same questions. I hope this helps.
Terry

Our only major concern is the existence of rattlesnakes. I have read some of your articles, and appreciate the “common sense” information. With that said, we have two small dogs (~9-10 pounds each). In Iowa (from where we moved), poisonous snakes and other predators were not an issue. We’re planning on fencing our back yard so the dogs can roam in a contained area.

How wise is it to permit the dogs to “free range” in the fenced back yard. Will they serve as “rattler magnets?”

Also, the veterinarian with whom we recently connect is recommending a series of injections for our dogs. Seemingly, the injections will “protect” the dogs from rattlesnake bites. I guess it is understandable the vet wants us to “do” the shots – total per dog would be around $800. Seems pretty nuts to me.

We’ll follow your good tips, and do our best to self-protect. Any input, other than what’s posted, will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Any input will be

Check your laws for the State of Nebraska but I do know in Omaha it is illegal to keep venomous snakes. When this is the case, most people who illegally keep reptiles will concoct some asinine story like that to explain away a bite. For instance, just last month in Maryland a lady claimed to have been bitten by a cobra in a parking lot because she “thought it was a stick and bent down to pick it up.” Upon investigation it turns out she had a number of venomous snakes in her house.

In another case in the East a few years back, a lady presented at the ER with a snakebite, claiming it was from a native rattlesnake. The ER administered Crofab Antivenom to no effect. She died quickly due to cranial hemorrhaging. It was later determined to have been a bite by a South American Urutu. Her local zoo stocked the appropriate antivenom so if she had identified the snake properly on presentation it is very likely she would be alive today.

Terry