By Dr. Mathew Cohen and Dr. Roxanne Kruger, Laguna Beach Veterinary Medical Center
Rattlesnakes are most active from April to October and sedentary during the winter to conserve energy.
Snakes are scared of humans. Bites occur out of fear and are usually secondary to being accidentally touched or stepped on.
They’re most active at dawn, dusk and night and generally try to avoid the warmest parts of the day. Rattlesnakes are found in brush, hiking trails, marshlands, sunny areas, under rocks, trees and sticks.
Not all rattlesnake bites are venomous. In some cases, they only give a warning bite and do not activate their fangs that hold the venom.
Symptoms of a rattlesnake bite in humans and dogs include bruising in the bite area, two puncture marks, pain, swelling of the bite area, and bleeding at the location of the bite. Bites are treated with antivenin.
Rattlesnake Safety Tips:
When walking in nature, stay alert and avoid tall grass, weed and brushy areas. Shake out sleeping bags and tents before using them, never hike alone and wear long pants and boots.
Do not let your dog off leash during rattlesnake season and in high brush areas or around hiking trails. If you see a snake in the wild, do not touch or taunt it.
Dog Rattlesnake Bites:
Dogs are most commonly bitten in the face or leg. The face is the number one area, as dogs “look with their noses.” The second most common area is the legs, as they are low to the ground, and when dogs are walking or running, this is the closest area to the snake. The chest is the least common but also the deadliest, as it is closer to the heart.
If your dog gets bitten, carry it and keep the bite at or above heart level to reduce blood flow to the bite area.
The Laguna Beach Veterinary Medical Center is in the process of putting together a Rattlesnake Aversion Training class at the hospital. During these classes, the dogs will work with defanged rattlesnakes to learn how to avoid the sound of a rattlesnake when heard in the wild. If people would like to sign up, they can email us at [email protected]. The Laguna Beach Veterinary Medical Center is located at 1855 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach. More information is available at www.lagunabeachvet.com.
