Rattle snakes and bird dogs

ty2fly · 05-03-2006, 08:00 PM

Whith a recent scare with a rattle snake and my GSP I wondered if the snake training I did with my dog was enough. Anybody got any methods or advice or medical info (i.e. signs of bite other than typical, reaction from dog, immediate treatment) they want to pass along?

SlamminKokes · 05-03-2006, 08:45 PM

Vets have a new antivenom out that you get before you go out. I believe its a 2 shot series! Suppose to cut the chance of death to a dog by like 90% or something like that!

duckboy · 05-03-2006, 10:42 PM

I got it for my dogs last fall, and then a booster a month later... costs $27 instead of $1800 per vial of antivenom.

Salmon creek Veterinary has it, dr Cleveland.

It is made by red rock biologic

ScottD · 05-06-2006, 05:47 AM

Are dogs naturally wary of snakes? My black lab once spotted a rattler and immediately jumped back. Upond closer inspection, it turned out to be a dead rattlesnake, but I wonder if he instinctively knew that a rattlesnake was dangerous. (I know that's not the case w/ porcupines..........he gotten quills from 2 porcy's)

SlamminKokes · 05-06-2006, 05:50 AM

Scott, They may be wary at first, but i think curiosity kicks in and they may go in for a closer look!Lots of dogs get bit every year by them!

easymoney · 05-06-2006, 06:18 AM

There are snakebreaking clinics every year about this time. Check with NAHRA or NAVHDA for any info. I have had it done with both my GWP and lab, works great, because it takes that natural fear or caution to the next level, avoidance.
I didn't know they had a preventitive vaccine...

ScottD · 05-06-2006, 07:06 AM

I was just curious if anyone else had noticed if their dog had a natural fear of a rattlesnake. My dog is usually "full speed ahead" after anything that catches his attention and since he jumped back like he did, it just made me wonder if he had a natural avoidance of a rattler. Of course if it was a live snake and he wasn't on a leash at the time, the outcome likely would have been different.

The vaccine sounds like a great idea.....especially if I were to take him chukar hunting in snake country.

Gun Rod Bow · 05-06-2006, 10:55 PM

I have had hunting dogs bitten in the face by rattlesnakes on 3 separate occasions. 2 times it was the same dog. None of them died. None of them were treated.

Usually a dog gets bit in the face. The biggest concern is that the swelling (which is really awfull) will close off their nostrils. Then they will suffocate.

I am not endorsing not treating a snake bit dog. I just had it happen to our dogs 3 times when I was a kid. We were a long way from town.

Thought I'd share.

SlamminKokes · 05-06-2006, 11:24 PM

Scott, im guesing the reason your dog jumped back was that it just startled him, either the smell or sight of it. Im guessing if that snake had moved, your dog most likely would have gone in for a closer inspection!

big foot · 05-07-2006, 09:16 AM

A couple years ago my sons large lab was bitten in the foot while running to retrieve a chukar. He was in real pain biting sagebrush and rocks right after he was bit. I have always carried a Sawers sting and snake bit kit with a extractor . We used that on him for about and hour trying to get as much venom out as we could. His leg swelled for a couple of days then started draining for about a week with no other ill effects. The bite in the foot was not hard to locate . I am a firm believer in the extract kit !

Salmo · 05-10-2006, 01:05 PM

I took my GSP to a snake break clinic out in St. Helens sponsored by GSP club of oregon, NAHRA or NAVHDA (I think). My GSP has been hunting three seasons in MT, ID, and OR without conflict. We broke her of porcupines at the same clinic. It was worth every penny. I'm still working on skunks though. I was able to condition her a few times during the MT season last year. If your GSP has a hard head stick with the anti venom/vaccination method. Good luck.

Salmo