A buddy of mine went out yesterday to check one of our trail cams and found a huge lion track at the water hole...The problem is, about 50 yards away from that, he found a huge rattlesnake ...
He has his dogs vaccinated with that new snake vaccine ...He had a dog hit last year and besides his balls swelling up like grape fruits, the dog did fine...For a dog to get the vaccine out here is about 100.00 per dog....Does anyone know of any place where you can buy the vaccine and give it yourself????...Thx in advance....Coop
We don't use it. Had three young dogs and a gyp bit just this year. Lots of snakes down here. Give them 2cc Penicillin and 6cc Dexamathasone both in the muscle or under skin, doesn't matter. Muscle works faster though. Do that for two or three days and they'll be fine. The Dex you can get from a vet. Thats the way we handle it , haven't lost agrown dog in fifteen years or more. It's just the little pups you have to watch.
Had a sex week old pup get bit three or four days ago, he's fine. Smaller dose for himd .5cc pen and 1cc dex. Good Luck!
I have been getting snake shots for three years. I am not sure how well it works in all situations but seems to lessen the effects of the bite to some degree. I agree with Shorty that the dex and pen is the way to go after a bite. The snake shots cost me $25/dose. When you stop and figure the time and money you have in a dog, it seems that it is cheap insurance.
Shorty you would not be from Cotulla would you?
Personaly I think that vaccine is not that great for the price (heard it don't even work for all types of snake). I have only had a two dogs bitten and both were messing with the snake. Both of them just swelled up at the site of the bite and never realy acted hurt. Would not have known they had been bitten except for the swelling. Dogs can smell snakes long before they are close enough to get bitten... some might not be paying attension and get bit acidently but most get bit because they messed with it. For a snake to bite a dog, the dog has to be very close, a few feet or closer.
I feel training your dogs to leave snakes, all snakes, alone is a better option than the vaccine. Catch a snake and show it to the dogs let them smell it from a distancee and if they get with in 5 feet give them a correction. Most dogs are going to be scared of a snake just from instinct so its easy to reinforce that with some real life experiance.
Shorty
I live in Menard. Just got off the phone with your Father-In-Law. We have been good friends for a long time and have made a few miles hunting critters. Have know the girls since they were pretty young. Have known your Mother-In-Law and her folks for even longer. They are good folks and have always been good to me.
You will not believe what Phillip asked me when he called. I will tell you later.
I have a few blue dogs that can catch a crippled or blind critter if conditions are really good othewise all bets are off.
By the way, he said that you made a circle this morning and did not get after anything. Sometimes that is really important, especially in your country as I can assure you there is plenty of "junk" to run. Getting all of your dogs gathered back up and not snake bit is a pretty good challenge this time of year.
Adios
Gary,
I've got alot of young dogs right now so your exactly right. Sometime no race at all is ok. The young dogs are starting to figure out whats good and whats not. You been making any rounds? I'm going again tonight and then in the morning. Tired dogs mind better!
Your right about the in-laws I sure love them. It's nice to find a wife who's whole family has the same interests as you. I'm a lucky man!!! Come see us if you get down this way.
Shorty
I have two eight year olds (littermates that I raised) and two 3 year olds that I raised out of the 8 yr. old female. I am picking up a nine month old male pup today. I bought him for a buddy in NM. I will start the pup and haul him to NM this fall along with the two 3 yr. olds and leave them thru the winter. I will haul them home in March and hunt them thru the summers here.
If you ever want to come up here and hunt, give me a shout. I have a lot of real estate and a lot of coons. Bobcats are starting to come on as the ranchers quit the sheep and goat business. Snakes are not as bad here as they are there. The biggest problem we has is the sheep and goat fencing. It does not slow my dogs down much if they are trailing or running but tough on a young dog until they figure them out.
I just got my dogs rattlesnake shots today. I got 5 vaccinated plus a rabies shot for less than $100. As I said earlier, I am not sure that it works in every situation but I feel that it is cheap insurance. No one would want my junk but they suit me and I have quite a few dollars tied up in them.
If your vet is trying to charge $100/dog, I would shop around a little. The first year does require two shots about 4 weeks apart if memory serves me correct. After the first year, it is only one shot and that is where I am with 4 of my dogs.
