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DENVER – The rattlesnake season is underway along the Front Range Range, with snakes biting two dogs at North Table Mountain Park in Jefferson County in recent days.
A forest ranger at the Jeffco Open Space tweeted Monday that visitors had reported two rattlesnake bites to dogs in two days.
Rattlesnakes usually leave their winter shelters in April or early May. According to Jason Clay of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), they probably went out of their den and warmed up over the late-season storms.
Snakes bask in the sun or on hot surfaces for much of the day. They can stay in the same place for hours or even days, waiting for the passage of prey. They are not designed for speed and flight when they are threatened. If a snake perceives a threat, he will defend himself and defend himself.
This means that hikers must be prepared. Wear sturdy boots and look where you put your hands and feet. Use more caution in the evening when snakes become more active, Clay said.
What do you do if you are hiking with your dog and that a rattlesnake is biting your dog?
Clay and Dr. French Aguirre-Wong of the Golden Paws Animal Hospital in Golden offer the following tips:
1) Remove yourself and your dog from danger.
Freeze it until you locate the snake, then calmly and calmly return to you and your dog. Put at least 5 feet between you and the snake. Do not try to catch, provoke or kill the snake.
2) Clean the wound.
Calm your dog and clean the wound with soap and water, and use an antibiotic ointment, if you have any. Rattlesnakes tend to bite dogs on the face, chest or front leg. Do not use a venom extractor; your dog's hair will prevent a good seal from forming.
3) Return to your car as soon as possible.
If you and your dog are on the trail, you may be a long way from where you parked. Try to limit your dog's physical efforts on the way home. If your dog is small, take it and transport it to your vehicle. If you have a big dog, they should be able to come back themselves.
4) Take your dog to an animal hospital immediately.
Do not wait. Take your dog to a veterinarian. If your dog is bitten on a weekend, find an emergency pet hospital. The dog needs a treatment including doses of anti-venom, an observation after a bite and a hospitalization.
5) What if your dog is vaccinated?
You can vaccinate your dog against rattlesnake venom. It is an annual vaccine that helps your dog to create antibodies in order to revive the body's defense process in the event of a bite. Even if your dog is vaccinated, you should always seek immediate treatment. The vaccine reduces the pain caused by the bite, the amount of antivenom required and the length of hospital stay.
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