Rattlers put dog owners on alert

As climbing temperatures draw nature lovers to La Cañada’s many trails, outdoor enthusiasts are on the lookout for indigenous rattlesnakes who, similarly beckoned by spring weather, have been known to make regular appearances.

But for those who hit the trails with animal companions, extra vigilance is required to ensure canine encounters with rattlers are avoided or at least survived.

Chuck Weiss, whose Briggs Avenue home is near the Angeles National Forest, is keenly aware of the added danger his mixed terriers, Chester and Stella, face during rattlesnake season. That’s why for the past few years, he’s gotten the pair vaccinated against snake bites.

“For the peace of mind, it’s a small price to pay,” he said of the shots, which can start around $25 to $75 per injection twice annually for one dog.

Some local veterinarians offer antivenin vaccines, which claim to buy extra time in the event of a poisonous snakebite. Administered twice a year, the shots help generate protective antibodies that work against Western Diamondback rattlesnake venom.

Others, not entirely convinced the vaccines deliver what they promise, advise dog owners to seek rattlesnake avoidance training. In a quick lesson, dogs learn to identify rattlers by smell and avoid them completely, says Dr. Woody Walker of the La Cañada Pet Clinic.

“The best thing to do is avoid a snake bite,” said Walker, adding that the clinic doesn’t offer the vaccine because it has not yet been scientifically proven effective. “(A class teaches) shock avoidance, but it’s the most effective for the problem, other than keeping your dog on a leash.”

Red Rock Biologics, California manufacturer of the Crotalus Atrox Toxoid vaccine for dogs and horses, estimates that approximately 300,000 dogs and cats in the U.S. suffer from venomous snake bites each year. Local vets report most snake bite cases occur in April.

Effects of a bite depend on the dog, the snake and the position and intensity of the bite, but each case should be taken seriously, says Ben Sures, a registered veterinary technician and co-owner of Montrose Pet Hospital.

“Any time there’s an envenomation discussion with a client, we have to treat it like an emergency,” he said. “Every body reacts differently.”

Glendale pet owner Emily Van Voorhis takes her pit bull mixes George and Charlotte to Montrose Pet Hospital, which is where she got them both vaccinated. The two pooches regularly accompany Van Voorhis and her husband on hikes around La Cañada’s Cherry Canyon Trail and paths near the Glendale Sports Complex, so minimizing their risk of snake bites is key.

“We just feel (the vaccine) is kind of a smart insurance policy,” said Van Voorhis, who also has pet insurance. “I’ve heard horror stories about people’s dogs getting bitten. I don’t ever want to be in a position where I have to choose between what I can afford and my dogs’ lives.”