Rattlesnake Vaccine problems?

[tgil]

I read where Kdog had a problem when his dog got its third round. Anyone else had any issues? My JRT got her second dose on Monday. Last night I noticed she has a swollen spot (the size of a tennis ball!) at the injection site. I'm waiting to get in to see the vet this morning. Anyone else had any negative experience with this vaccine? Any vets on here care to chime in?

[DrenalinJunkie]

I talked with a guy the other day who USED to give the vaccines....... he was hearing stories of dogs dying from them and discontinued giving the shots.

[Tx Trapper]

We have done it for at least 2-3yr's with no problem. Please post back what you find out. ...............Allen

[sburrer]

I've used the vaccine three years now and my dog has had a lump at the injection site each time without any problems. They don't seem to bother her and go away after a week or so.

[agvet2004]

I've used the vaccine three years now and my dog has had a lump at the injection site each time without any problems. They don't seem to bother her and go away after a week or so.

This is not that uncommon. We see it with many of the vaccines. If they are not completely given SQ, the tissues can have a small localized reaction. The small, firm knot results and usually regresses in a few weeks, sometimes longer. I am not sure about this occuring more with the rattlesnake vaccine. I will also check into the concern about deaths from the vaccine.

Mike

[DrenalinJunkie]

This is not that uncommon. We see it with many of the vaccines. If they are not completely given SQ, the tissues can have a small localized reaction. The small, firm knot results and usually regresses in a few weeks, sometimes longer. I am not sure about this occuring more with the rattlesnake vaccine. I will also check into the concern about deaths from the vaccine.

Mike

Let us know what you find out.... I would like to know as well as I am thinking of giving my new pup the shots when she is old enough.

[agvet2004]

I have not found anything about deaths attributed soley to this specific vaccine vs other vaccines. Any vaccine can cause an anaphylactic reaction and death, the chances are very small, but it is possible. The most common reaction with this vaccine is the above described localized tissue response.

Last night I noticed she has a swollen spot (the size of a tennis ball!)
Sometimes this vaccine can also cause a sterile abscess, so that is also a possibility.

The biggest question about this vaccine is its effectiveness. There a alot of people that say it works since their dogs were bitten and only had a mild reaction. The problem with this is that not every bite comes with envenomation. There are a very large number of "dry bites". There are no controlled studies that actually prove any effectiveness. The company will not invest any money in this as it could actually prove the vaccine is worthless. The risk is not worth it for them.

There are vets in rattlesnake infested areas that use this alot and say they have seen many dogs bitten that it has helped. Again, you could say it was the vaccine or it was just a dry bite.

Overall, if truly bitten and envenomated, I would not count on the vaccine alone to save your dog. It will hopefully decrease the pain, swelling, and local tissue necrosis and give you time to get to your vet to be treated. Definitely get to your vet or a vet ASAP. If it is a true envenomation, and a decent amount, you dog will likely need antivenon (typically at least $450-500 a bottle). Many dogs can survive without this, but many do need it.

I would not worry about this vaccine from a severe reaction standpoint. I do not know if it is truly effective, but for those that will be exposed to snakes and have a chance of being bitten, it may be worth it. It will decrease the local pain, swelling, and necrosis and give you time to get to a vet.

Sorry to ramble, if there are other questions, feel free to post or PM me.

Mike

[Captrix]

We've given this to our dogs for 3 years now. 3 years ago, a month after the last shot, my mom's great pyraneese was bitten by a rattler, her head swelled to the size of a pumpkin but she recovered quickly. I think the shot helped. I have a 10 pound Italian Greyhound that gets the shot and never had a reaction, I worry that she wouldnt make it if she did get bit by a rattler.

[Kdog]

That is exactly what happened to my dog. It ulcerated, they gave her antibiotics and stereroids and she healed up fine. My poor wife had to take care of it, I was out of town.

[tgil]

My dog is fine. The doc drained the mass and said rattlesnake venom is just some nasty stuff and it was just a reaction to this. He said it shouldn't even be noticeable after a few days. I wasn't too thrilled about the billing for the visit, but I'm working on finding out if that is about standard or if I got hosed.

[Kdub]

Wayne Lain the dog "snake breaker" gave my dog her first shot, just under the skin. He told me that in some cases they would have some swelling from the injection. My dog did'nt have any problems. I took her to my vet a month later and he gave her the 2nd shot, in the muscle. He said they had a better chance of not swelling or at least it lasting as long if it did this way. Again my dog didn't have any problems from this injection either.
I have heard of some cases of dogs being bitten after getting the shots, and they just gave them a bunch on benydrl. I think this was for copperhead bites mostly.
I got my dog snake trained, and got her the shots, but if she still get's bit, I'll take her to the vet ASAP. From what I've been told it's kinda like us taking a flu shot; it might not keep you from catching it but it will help you to have a milder case of it. In my case it might at least buy me a little more time to get my to the vet.

[Texas Grown]

Wayne Lain the dog "snake breaker" gave my dog her first shot, just under the skin. He told me that in some cases they would have some swelling from the injection. My dog did'nt have any problems. I took her to my vet a month later and he gave her the 2nd shot, in the muscle. He said they had a better chance of not swelling or at least it lasting as long if it did this way. Again my dog didn't have any problems from this injection either.
I have heard of some cases of dogs being bitten after getting the shots, and they just gave them a bunch on benydrl. I think this was for copperhead bites mostly.
I got my dog snake trained, and got her the shots, but if she still get's bit, I'll take her to the vet ASAP. From what I've been told it's kinda like us taking a flu shot; it might not keep you from catching it but it will help you to have a milder case of it. In my case it might at least buy me a little more time to get my to the vet.

2X. Wayne here and agree with the above. Had my daughter give the second injection since she is an RN. She loves giving injections

[tgil]

I just missed his clininc in Weatherford this year. I'll definitely hit the first clinic he puts on in my neck of the woods. This vet is "different" to say the least. He basically seems to believe the vaccine is nothing less than a partial bite in a sterile environment. I asked him about putting my dog on the ground after the first injection and the danger of her being bitten before the second injection. His reaction was "well, the bite will be her 'second shot'. Just be sure to bring her in if she gets bite so I can make sure she's ok. From what agvet2004 said above, I'm not sure there's much to the shot. I'll probably continue to get it and do a snake clinic annually just to be sure.

[Tuffbroadhead]

My Vet here in Weatherford, mentioned it during one of Kaimi's visits and knows she is a working dog that encounters other critters. He exact words were, get the the lyme shot and dont worry about a rattle snake vaccine, he also noted that there is so many different types of rattle snakes in Texas and that in recent years they have noticed that the aspects of regional species venom have been changing and getting more advanced.

[stinkbelly]

My dog gets a large lump up to the size of a golf ball a day or two after the shot. It takes about 2 weeks to go away.