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54 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2022 Tails & Trails - All Pets Rattlesnake season has begun and therefore it's time to consider pet safety when it comes to outdoor activities. It is estimated that 150,000 dogs and cats are bitten each year by venomous snakes in the United States. Here in California, with our dry, desert like conditions and our open space, rattlesnakes are common. Dogs most commonly are bitten on the head or face. Cats, being quicker than dogs, often are bitten on the side of their body as they are jumping away or on their paws. Rattlesnake season is considered March through October. In order to prevent rattlesnakes from coming into your yard, areas should be made less friendly to the snakes. This includes special fencing and removing areas where they may nest such as wood or debris piles. It's also important to keep your pet nearby while hiking or walking through brush and canyon landscape. Keeping them on a leash is key to keeping them on the path and away from brush and large rocks where rattlesnakes can hide. There are rattlesnake-avoidance classes offered to teach dogs that they want to stay away from rattlesnakes. One of the best preventative steps we can take is to get the rattlesnake vaccine. The vaccine is made up of deactivated venom that can no longer cause negative effects but will allow the immune system to recognize the venom. It will not prevent the pet from needing veterinary care, but it will give you more time to safely get your pet to a veterinary hospital. The initial vaccine requires a two-vaccine series and then an annual vaccination after that. Signs that are seen after a bite include hypotension, or lowering of blood pressure, resulting in wooziness or fainting. Then extreme swelling starts at the site of the bite and spreads rapidly. With this swelling, bruising and redness to the skin occurs. Do not apply tourniquets, cut the area, or attempt to suck out the bite. This can put you at risk as venom can be absorbed through the tissue in your mouth or can cause more damage to your pet. If you think that your dog or cat has been bitten or if you come home to find that your pet is swollen, bruised, or lethargic, take them to your veterinarian immediately. ~ Vivian Walker vivr@sbcglobal. net