ASK THE EXPERT

ASK THE EXPERT Neighborhood Snakes

Keeping Pets Safe

POP QUIZ: What do you do when your dog is barking at a snake?

While you’re enjoying park hikes and trips to the beach, don’t forget that we’re not the only ones out and about in the summer. Snakes tend to be more active in the warmer months, resting in dark, cool spots or hunting for food at dawn or dusk to avoid the heat.

While most local snakes are not venomous, it is wise to encourage your pets to ignore or avoid them on the off chance they do come across a dangerous species.

Angela Jones, Georgetown's animal control supervisor, recommends owners don't take home safety for granted. "Always have a quick check of the porch and surrounding areas rather than just opening the door, particularly in the evening when they are soaking up sun energy to get them through the night. Keep an eye on wood or rock piles, shady areas, or condensation drips."

THE HELPFUL ONES

According to Joe Plunkett, a Sun City snake wrangler, we should also remember to be nice to the ”good” snakes in our area. Rat, bull, brown, and earth snakes are beneficial and help control our rodent and pest population. Fewer rats and mice can help your dog avoid contracting leptospirosis, a bacterium that can be spread to people.

DANGER NOODLES

Most venomous snakes in Central Texas are pit vipers, which is a focus for avoidance education. Fred Reyna, owner and trainer at Texas Snake Avoidance says, "Rattlers, copperheads, and water moccasins are beneficial in nature; they are only a problem if they bite us. A baby rattler's venom is most potent until it is about three months old, but an older snake has more volume and either of them will unload everything they have in order to survive."

If, despite your best efforts to avoid common habitats, you encounter a snake with your dog, it is best to keep your pet under control and walk away. He adds that snakes are primarily defensive and will not chase a dog or a human so simply steering clear is key to bite prevention. "Most snakes are just trying to survive and will leave on their own, or you can gently spray the critter with a hose until he moves away."

To maximize safety for your pet, Fred says, "Dogs can be taught to avoid snakes and perhaps just need a refresher now and then. We adapt dogs for avoidance using live snakes but, on your own, owners can also work on training their dog to return when called even when excited about another animal."

Fred travels the state to help pet owners and will arrange one-day classes to help educate dog-loving community groups like HOAs, rescues, vet clinics, etc. Contact him via Facebook/Texas-Snake-Avoidance.

AFTER A BITE

Joe cautions, “The main thing after a bite is to keep your dog calm. There is no home treatment for a venomous snakebite. Suction kits and tourniquets should not be used, and NSAIDs (ibuprofen) may increase bleeding. Benadryl and antibiotics will also not help as venom is not a histamine. Just get to a vet quickly." Fred adds it is not necessary to identify the snake but do keep your pet calm and keep the bite site below heart level if you can.

He recommends antivenom treatment at the vet. Joe adds, "Regular vets do not always stock antivenom, but local emergency veterinary hospitals such as Central Texas Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital in Round Rock generally do. Before transporting an animal that has been bitten by a rattlesnake, call ahead and make sure the vet hospital is able to provide appropriate treatment." Visit GeorgetownView.com for helpful links and what you need to know about rattlesnake vaccines.

image: Facebook/Texas-Snake-Avoidance

SPONSORED CONTENT Wellness from Ketamine? NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT KETAMINE, BY THE TIME YOU FINISH A MENTAL RESET IS POSSIBLE READING THIS PAGE, YOU MAY BE THINKING IT IS RIGHT FOR YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE.

WHAT IS KETAMINE?

Ketamine has been around for decades, but its role as a potent tool against depression, anxiety, and chronic pain is relatively new. Ketamine was initially developed as a surgical anesthetic; it received FDA approval for this use in 1970 and is now considered an essential medication by the World Health Organization. Because of the drug’s remarkable ability to induce a trance-like state with minimal side effects, ketamine was added to first responder protocols to calm agitated and actively suicidal patients. Providers realized that the immediate mood-lifting effects of ketamine often lasted much longer, with some patients showing complete remission of depression with a single dose.

In 2006, a landmark study on the use of ketamine in treating depression, published by the National Institute of Mental Health, revealed a single intravenous dose of ketamine produced "robust and rapid antidepressant effects" within just a few hours. Since then, several other studies have shown similar findings. As a result, a growing number of physicians across the country are turning to ketamine to provide potentially life-changing solutions for people in need of rapid relief from a number of debilitating conditions— depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. Ketamine infusion clinics have been growing—and thriving—for the past few years, and Georgetown is now part of that trend.

ReKonnect Wellness in Georgetown provides ketamine injections and intravenous infusions to treat several conditions commonly resistant to traditional medical interventions.

Ketamine has the remarkable ability to provide relief almost immediately, with effects lasting days, weeks, or months at a time.

In Georgetown, Dr. Aaron S. Gingrich at reKonnect Wellness provides ketamine therapy in a calm, spa-like setting. A registered nurse administers each dose and carefully monitors each patient for any adverse effects. Blankets, eye masks, and curated playlists are available during each session. It is important to note insurance companies have not formally recognized ketamine treatment for depression and chronic pain, so treatment is typically managed on a self-pay basis.1

Dr. Gingrich explains, "For mental health this is a wonderful complement—with other kinds of therapies— to a holistic approach to wellness. It provides a powerful reset for the mind and helps change thought patterns. For those with chronic pain, it is a great alternative to addictive pain relievers."

1 Typical cost for a single infusion is $350-400

HOW IT WORKS

Clients begin with a consultation with Dr. Gingrich to discuss client goals for ketamine therapy and to create a treatment plan. An initial treatment plan typically consists of six ketamine sessions spread over two weeks. Each appointment lasts approximately 90 minutes to allow patients to prepare and recover adequately before and after their infusion.

During a treatment session, most patients experience a brain trip. "Ketamine is classified as a psychedelic, but is safely administered in low doses under constant medical supervision," Dr. Gingrich says. "Patients do not sleep but some report seeing visions or may have extremely calming out-of-body experiences. Some feel better right away, or after a few hours, and the calming effects may extend from a few days to a few months."

Dr. Gingrich adds, "Ketamine therapy is effective for about 80 percent of our clients, and we are on a mission to help the 20 percent who don't experience the full effects. In all cases, however, there is still two hours of peace, and a brief respite from whatever is diminishing their quality of life." Scan the code to visit their website and click the News link to watch a treatment documentary.

1103 WILLIAMS DRIVE #405 NEAR IH-35 • (737) 275-8438