Vaccine Basics and Use
What does rattlesnake vaccine do? The vaccine is an aid in preventing pain, injury, and death from Rattlesnake bites. The vaccine is designed to simulate the dog’s natural immune system to produce antibodies that can neutralize rattlesnake venom. These antibodies become a part of the dog’s immune system, and are available when the snake bite occurs.
Which dogs can use this vaccine? The vaccine is for use in healthy dogs of at least four months of age. It is conditionally licensed for use against the effects of Western Diamondback rattlesnakes. The health of the dog is important. A dog has to have a mature and healthy immune system to create antibodies at a level that will provide enough protection.
How can you use rattlesnake vaccine to get the most protection?The best way to use the vaccine depends upon the size of the dog and the times of the year that the dog will be exposed to rattlesnakes. Dog owners should know the benefits and limitations of the vaccine. The benefits include that it reduces the severity of snake bites and potentially reduces the cost of treatment. In spite of these benefits, it is still recommended that a rattlesnake bite be treated as a veterinary emergency. This is because the vaccine does not give total immunity and because there are sometimes special circumstances can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.
For the initial vaccination, give one dose subcutaneously and away from the mid line followed by another dose about 30 days later. Timing is important with the initial vaccination sequence and a thirty-day spacing is ideal. There should be at least three weeks and at most six weeks between the initial dose and the first booster dose. If the booster is not given in this time period, start the initial sequence over.
Two initial doses are often insufficient to stimulate enough antibody response in very large and very small dogs. The vaccination dosage was designed for average sized dogs. Dogs over 100 pounds often have so much body mass that there is not enough antigen in the initial two doses to stimulate a sufficient antibody response. Although smaller dogs have a better response ratio for their size than the larger dogs, their smaller size requires them to have a far higher response ratio in order to have the same total level of antibody protection. For example: If a ten-pound dog had the same ratio of antibodies as a 40 pound dog, it would have one quarter of the total antibody protection.
In dogs over 100 pounds or under 25 pounds, veterinarians can give one additional booster dose 30 days after the initial booster dose, or three injections total, in the initial vaccination sequence. Large or small dogs that did not receive this protocol initially tend to achieve sufficient antibody response with the next regularly timed booster (re-starting the initial vaccination sequence is unnecessary).
At a minimum, a dog should get one booster dose per year. This should usually be given in the spring or about 30 days before the beginning of expected exposure to rattlesnakes. Giving boosters at the wrong time of year is probably the most common mistake made when administering this vaccine. Here is how to get the best protection: Regardless of how late in Summer or Fall the dog gets his booster the previous year, he should get his booster about 30 days before the beginning of the next rattlesnake exposure season.
Boosters last about six months. For much longer rattlesnake seasons or year around risk, you can booster twice per year. This will help ensure that the dog is protected all year long. If you have a dog, like a hunting dog, who is only exposed for brief periods (like a couple of weeks in the spring and then again a couple of weeks in the fall), you can maximize protection of the vaccine by giving it 30 to 45 days before the beginning of each exposure season. The same is true of dogs that go camping. If the dog is only exposed to rattlesnakes while on a camping trip in the Summer, vaccinate about 30 to 45 days before the beginning of that Summer trip to achieve the maximum protection while the dog is most at risk for rattlesnake bites.