What to do if your pet is bitten by a rattlesnake on the High Plains

CANADIAN, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – With warmer weather bringing snake populations out of hibernation in Texas, veterinarians around the High Plains and the Lone Star State have encouraged dog owners to both take precautions and act quickly when encountering venomous snakes during the spring and summer.

The Canadian Vet Clinic posted on social media that it recently treated its first canine patients of 2024 who had been bitten by rattlesnakes around the Texas Panhandle region. One of the dogs, according to the clinic, was able to recover due to annual vaccinations and quick treatment with antivenom.

As noted by the clinic, Texas A&M University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and veterinarians with TexVetPets, prompt medical treatment for snake bites – particularly venomous snakes – can decide whether or not the pet survives the encounter. Further, while immediate medical treatment is still considered necessary, veterinarians advised that annual vaccinations for dogs can increase the likelihood that they will survive a bite from a venomous snake.

Veterinarians and Texas A&M University staff suggested measures pet owners can take to prevent snake bites to dogs, including:

• Being aware of snake behavior patterns and their inclinations toward startling and hiding;
• Being cautious around places where snakes are commonly found, including tall grass, leaf and wood piles, sheds and lower-traffic areas;
• Vaccinating pets like dogs to promote a favorable response to rattlesnake venom;
• Training pets to avoid snakes and common snake hiding places; and
• Regularly checking pets for snakebite symptoms.

Snakebite reactions in pets can vary in severity, according to veterinarians, but typical signs of a rattlesnake bite are rapid swelling, pain and dark fluid oozing from the skin. The venom could also cause tissue necrosis, blot clotting issues, kidney failure and other complications. Often, pets like dogs and cats tend to be bitten around the face or on the legs and paws, so owners may find it useful to check those areas regularly.

Further, veterinarians advised that all snakebites should be assumed venomous when found on a pet, and pets should be taken for medical care as soon as owners discover a bite. Owners were also cautioned to remove collars or harnesses on pets to prevent breathing being constricted due to swelling, as well as to keep pets as quiet as possible and limit movement.

More information on venomous snakes in Texas and general safety information can be found through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.