MAN HOPS ON TO MOVING SEMITRUCK PUBLIC SAFETY, A4
Gallup Sun VOL 10 | ISSUE 488
www.gallupsun.com
August 2, 2024
Wrangling rattlesnakes
THE CLASS THAT TEACHES PROTECTION, AVERSION TRAINING - FOR DOGS
By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor
A
ccording to Outside Magazine, rattlesnakes bite 150,000 pets each year in the U.S. Ten species of rattlesnakes call New Mexico h o m e : t h e We s t e r n Diamondback Ratlesnake, the Prairie Rattlesnake, the Eastern Black-Tailed R at t lesna ke, t he New Mexico Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake, the Northern Black-Tailed Rattlesnake, the Mojave Rattlesnake, the Rock Rattlesnake, the Tiger rattlesnake, the We s t er n M a s s a s a u ga , and the Arizona Black Rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes have a variety of habitats, includi ng g ra s sla nd s, scr ub brushes, swamps, forests, and deserts. They like to hide in shady places, such as under logs, rocks, in bushes, or even un-der the foundation of buildings. With all of New Mexico’s wide-open areas, walking trails, and warm weather, it’s a prime location for the cold-blooded creatures. It’s common for hikers to run into the animals when they’re out and about with their dogs, but what happens when a dog is bit by one?
In the meantime, she said it’s important to keep the dog calm. If the dog will allow it, owners should try cleaning the wound. This could help get some of the venom out and keep it from get-ting infected. But if it’s too painful and the dog won’t let you near the wound, let it be.
While on the way to the vet, owners should try to keep the affected area lower than the dog’s heart, that way the blood containing any venom won’t rush to the vital organ. Excessive move-ment will increase blood flow, causing the venom to circulate faster, so it’s best to just keep the dog as calm as possible. Swelling can occur, but Spulak said it’s only truly a problem if the bite occurred on the dog’s face. A swelled-up face can lead to breathing problems, which can increase the dog’s chance of dying from the injury.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake TAKING PET PRECAUTIONS If a rattlesnake bites a dog, severe localized swelling can occur at the site of the puncture wound, most commonly on a dog’s face or limbs. Twenty to 30% of all rattlesnake bites to pets are dry-bites, meaning that no venom is released, but that doesn’t mean the situation isn’t still serious. Dry-bites can still cause bleeding, limping, a change in breathing, or muscle tremors. Veter i na r ia n Em i ly Spulak, who works at the Cedar A nimal Medical Center in Gallup, said it’s very important that dog owners get their animals to a vet as soon as possible after they’ve been bitten by a rattlesnake. “Probably the most important thing is to try and get them to a vet as soon as possible,” she said. “It’s a little difficult if you’re out and about and you have a way to go to get to a vet, but the sooner you can get them to a vet the better.”
New Mexico Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake Spulak said a rattlesnake bite doesn’t mean instantaneous death for a dog, but the dog’s survival rate often depends on its size and how much venom got into its bloodstream. “If dogs get a pretty big dose of venom and it’s a smaller dog, those dogs could die pretty quick-ly, like within a few hours to 24 hours,” she said. “Some dogs, such as bigger dogs or dogs who didn’t get as much venom, maybe don’t die right away or don’t die at all. There are definitely dogs that don’t get treated and get bit by snakes and it’s painful and they feel like crap for a while and then they get better.” Spulak said the best
helpful,” she said. One of the closest rattlesnake aversion training classes is offered in Santa Fe. Sean McGann has been teaching people how to train their dogs to rec-
Arizona Black Rattlesnake thing owners can do to but it helps to lessen the prevent rattlesnake bites symptoms, and it makes it is just being aware of their less likely that they would surroundings when on a die,” she said. “I think it’s hike with their dog. Hikers helpful for dogs, especially shouldn’t tromp through dogs that are out and about bushes, as a rattle-snake and could come in contact may be hiding in there. w i t h a People should also keep their dogs on a leash to keep them from running off and potentially getting bit. If your dog does get bit, most veterinarians in the Southwest carry anti-venom. B u t w h a t ' s Gallup an Living Rentals owner to do if their dog is bitten at night? Indian Hills Area In rural areas, getting to an emergency vet's office 3 bed/2 bath could take hours. Babette Herrmann, treasurer for $1850 Four Corners Pet Alliance, Prairie Rattlesnake rec-ommends administerContact Berlinda (505) 488-2344 ing liquid Benadryl to help reduce inflammation and rattlesnake be-cause it berlinda@gallupliving.com avoid anaphylactic shock. gives owners more time to "I would rather be safe get them somewhere.” than sorry. I have 309 beenE. Nizhoni Blvd fostering for years, and The vaccine is initially NM 87301in two doses, Benydral has helped usGallup cur- administered tail possibly bad outcomes with the booster needed due to allergic reactions," about three weeks after Herrmann said. "No mat- the first dose. After that, ter what, get your dog to a dogs would need an annual vet right away. Rattlesnake booster every year, typically bites are serious and can in the spring at the beginbe fatal if not immediately ning of rattlesnake season. treated." RATTLESNAKE RATTLESNAKE ADVERSION VACCINE TRAINING Spulak recommends One way some people that any dog who is often keep their dogs safe from outside and has a chance rattlesnake bites is rattleof getting bit should take a snake aversion train-ing. rattlesnake vaccine. Dogs can be taught to recThe vaccine is spe- ognize a rattlesnake’s sound cifically designed to pro- and smell and learn to keep duce antibodies against a safe distance. the venom of a Western Spulak said she doesn’t Di-amondback, which is one think rattlesnake aversion of the most common snakes training is a fool-proof way found in New Mexico. Dogs to prevent rattle-snake that have taken the vaccine bites, but she doesn’t think will experience less pain people shouldn’t try it out if and swelling if they’re bit by they’re interested. a rattlesnake, and they may “I think sometimes [the require less anti-venom, training can fail] because which can be costly and [the dogs] jump in a bush produce side effects. and spook a snake or some“It doesn’t necessar- thing unexpected happens, ily stop them from having but I do think rattlesnake signs of a rattlesnake bite, aversion training is very
“New Mexico is one of the most dog-friendly states in the U.S., and there’s 10 types of rattle-snakes here,” he said. “They’re dangerous, and they’re not out looking for trouble with humans or dogs but hiking trails and recreational areas are just natural areas where the two come to-gether. I just think [the training] is a really good investment in your dog’s safety, especially considering how common rattlesnakes are around here.” The classes McGann teaches typically range from a group of about four to 10 dogs, and last about three-and-a-half hours. HOW THE TRAINING WORKS McGann starts the class with only the owners. After he collects the required waivers, he brings out the
Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake ognize the sound and smell of a rattlesnake for three years now. He runs his own company, Snake Dog, LLC. In an interview with the Sun, McGann explained why he thinks rattlesnake aversion training is something a dog owner should invest in.
snakes in glass jars and gives the people a chance to observe them and get comfortable. He spends about 20 minutes explaining the physiology of rattlesnakes and what their role in the New Mexico ecosystem is. He said he tries to show people that the snakes aren’t “scary” or “bad.” He also
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