By Chris Caraveo
Twitter: @ChrisCaraveo31

A rattle can be a baby’s best friend. Unless the baby is your pet, and the rattle is a snake.

Buddies and Sonny found out the hard way recently, according to the release from the Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center.

“Dogs are at an elevated risk for rattlesnake bites because of their curious nature,” said Dr. Brandi Mattison, AVECCC Medical Director. “If your pet is bitten by a rattlesnake, seek immediate medical attention. Severe or life-threatening symptoms may occur immediately after the bite or within a couple of hours. In either event, it is best to get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.”

For Buddies, he had been bitten on his nose. His owner noticed the bite early in the morning and drove him about an hour to the AVECCC. Buddies arrived with a swollen face, difficulty breathing, and weakness, officials said.

In the other case, Sonny was bitten on the right forelimb about an hour before arriving to the AVECCC with pain and swelling in the leg. Both dogs received medical treatment, including anti-venom, and responded well.

Nicole Martin, marketing manager at the AVECCC, said most of the cases coming in to the AVECCC are dogs and they tend to come across rattlesnakes when on a walk or hike with their owner.

“We haven’t necessarily seen a spike in numbers,” Ms. Martin said in response to a release stating the AVECCC had seen a spike in rattlesnake bite cases in dogs over the past three weeks since March 4. “Rattlesnake bite cases are treated more frequently in the Spring months, when the weather is warming up, and before it gets too hot. We have treated four rattlesnake cases during the month of February. This is an average number of these types of cases this time of year.”

Officials at the AVECCC want pet owners to be aware of the possibility of rattlesnake encounters during hiking and other outdoor activities, including the chance that they may appear in your own backyard.

“Dogs are curious and we commonly see snake fang marks on the muzzle and front forearms,” Ms. Martin said. “It seems that many dogs are bitten when they go sniffing around bushes and explore rock crevices. Clearing away tall brush in a yard may be helpful.”

Rattlesnakes tend to come out of hibernation when the weather warms up, officials said.

While Cody and Kate Will don’t have dogs of their own, they get their puppy fix via their business Rattlesnake Solutions, based in Cave Creek. The couple trains dogs to avoid snakes and from putting their noses where they shouldn’t.

Cody Will says the number of dogs they see each month varies due to temperature extremes, demands, etc. However, they trained nearly 2,800 dogs in 2019 with a good percentage of those between March and May.

“Dogs don’t inherently understand that rattlesnakes are dangerous, and like anything else small and fascinating, they typically like to investigate them using their nose,” Cody Will stated. “This leads to disaster (sometimes fatal for the dog) and can easily cost pet owners thousands of dollars in veterinary expenses.”

While there’s not much Do It Yourself snake avoidance training due to the dangers of working with venomous reptiles — and other reasons — there are a few extra things Cody Will says responsible pet owners can do to avoid negative interactions with rattlesnakes.

“If they live in or near natural desert landscape, they may be able to snake-proof their property using a company like Rattlesnake Solutions,” he said. “This would help protect their property from rattlesnake entry in the first place, and therefore protect both themselves and their pets.”

Other tips would be to keep dogs on leashes, especially during high snake activity periods like in the spring.

“Snakes aren’t always easy to spot, but the leash provides control if a snake is first spotted by the owner or if an untrained dog is showing interest in one they’ve found,” Cody Will said. “Gentle leash corrections to discourage dogs from sticking their noses in holes/bushes can also help, though often takes quite a bit of effort considering all of the fun smells are there.”

Lastly, sticking to open roads, trails, sidewalks, etc. so that you are far more likely to notice early any rattlesnakes that happened to be out can also be a wise move in general.

“Even with the greatest amount of care accidents can still happen, so we always recommend pet owners be prepared and have a basic emergency plan,” Cody Will said.

Tips to reduce the chances of dogs getting bitten from a rattlesnake, as well what to do if they are bitten, include:

Short Leash: Most rattlesnake bites happen when a dog is off leash, on a long leash, or a flexi-lead. Keeping your dog on a shorter leash gives the owner the opportunity to hear the rattle and pull their dog to safety.

Avoid Dense Brush, Rocky, and Grassy Areas: If hiking, staying on the trail and using wider trails and roads gives the pet owner an opportunity to see the snake ahead of time. At home, keep your yard clear of dense and/or long grass to discourage snake habitation.

Encountering a Rattlesnake: Calmly and slowly back away from the snake until you are no longer within striking distance (about the snake’s length) and until the snake stops rattling. Carefully leave the area because one snake usually means more are within the immediate area.

Know the Symptoms: You may not be with your dog when they are bitten, so know the signs. Immediate symptoms include puncture wounds, severe pain, swelling, restlessness, panting, or drooling. Other symptoms, depending on amount of venom and/or size of the dog, may appear quickly or within a few hours: lethargy, weakness, collapse, muscle tremors, diarrhea, seizures or neurological signs (including slowed/difficult breathing).

If Your Dog is Bitten: If possible, carry your dog to your car and limit their movement. Minimizing the dog’s activity will limit the speed of venom spread. Immediately drive them to the nearest, open veterinary hospital.

Other sources for rattlesnake prevention include the Phoenix Herpetological Society, which has a Rattlesnake Hotline is 602-550-1090. They also have a 3-hour Venomous Snake Training Course. Those interested can contact Olivia Bogues, PHS Conservation Educator, at 480-513-4377 ext. 5 or Olivia@phoenixherp.com.

The Scottsdale Fire Department is also getting proactive in reminding residents of the potential danger that snakes present.

“It’s snake season! They are out enjoying nature with us,” the agency stated on Twitter. “Remember: Wildlife is Wild! Avoid putting yourself at risk...”

Read the departments tips on snakes — and bees — at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/snakes-and-bees.

If you see a rattlesnake, the PHS offers several tips to keep you and your pet safe:

Stay calm and collected, then take two big steps away from the snake;

Do not run. If you are not calm and running away, you are more likely to trip and fall and cause damage to yourself;

Do not approach the snake for any reason. Do not try to hurt, kill, move, or photograph the snake. Back up and give it plenty of space so that everyone feels safer;

Call a professional to remove the snake and relocate it to a safe, appropriate habitat. The cost with PHS is $75 for any snake call, which is less expensive than a hospital visit from trying to remove the snake yourself; and

Even nonvenomous snakes can bite. Treat all snakes — and all animals for that matter — with respect and distance and you are going to be okay.