SNAKE DANGER 101

After our long summer, the weather in the Valley is finally BEAUTIFUL!  As we move more of our life and daily activities to the outdoors once again, it is always a good idea to remind and re-educate ourselves about outdoor dangers to our pets. 

Snakes reside in bushes, holes and under rocks. Most curious pets love poking around in these areas.  Training your dog to avoid being bitten by a rattlesnake is an essential part of living in the Arizona desert.

You may have heard it called - "snake-breaking", "snake-proofing", "snake avoidance" or "snake aversion", but they all boil down to the same thing: training your dog to avoid these deadly creatures.

We recommend Partner’s Dog School in Cave Creek. They can be reached at 480-595-6700. Sometimes Spike’s Treat’s in Fountain Hills hosts training sessions by Web Parton. Spike's Treats can be reached at 480-634-4449. Both trainers use live snakes (in a safe manner) to ensure successful aversion training, and both have a proven track record.

A rattlesnake vaccine is available that can help protect your dog in the unforeseen event of a rattlesnake bite. The vaccine can reduce the seriousness of the bite and help speed up recovery. El Dorado Animal Hospital has this vaccine available and it is not expensive. You can read more about the vaccine at www.redrockbiologics.com.

And what if the worst actually happens and your pet does get bit by a rattler?  We recommend immediately calling us and coming in right away. A rattlesnake bite is an emergency! If we are closed we recommend one of the three emergency animal clinics listed on our contact page. Treatment involves pain medicine, antibiotics, fluids and antivenin therapy. Some dogs need hospitalization and monitoring after a bite, but others recover quickly. The sooner treatment is started the better!

Fortunately, most snake bites can be treated successfully and do not result in death, but why take any chances with your most treasured furry friend? You will have wonderful peace of mind once your dog is successfully snake trained. It is well worth the investment!

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