Snake expert reminding residents to stay aware while spending time outdoors with pets

“The closest antivenom source is at the family pet hospital in Lethbridge, and they only brought it in as of last year,” she added.

“They treated roughly a dozen bites last year in Lethbridge.”

Monk says that antivenom has a three to five-year shelf life and sees a benefit to local vets bringing it in.

She says dogs are especially vulnerable because they naturally investigate snakes with their faces, leading to bites around the head and neck area.

“This time of year, watch where you’re walking; keeping your pet on a leash is definitely advisable,” Monk said.

If a dog is bitten, Monk says owners should remove the collar immediately due to swelling and seek emergency veterinary care as quickly as possible.

“The only answer is antivenom,” Monk said.

“A snake bite is incredibly painful for the pets that it happens to. In the absence of antivenom, it’s important that a strong pain reliever is used, preferably in the opioid class,” she adds.

“Benadryl and Antibiotics don’t do anything. Steroids can make the problem worse. NSAIDs, a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, are contraindicated and can also make coagulation issues more complicated in the envenomated pet. So those should be avoided as well.”

Monk says residents can help reduce snake encounters by keeping grass and vegetation trimmed, limiting rodent activity around sheds and decks and checking yards before letting pets outside.

Walking off trails can also lead to potential snake bites for both humans and pets.

Monk says snakes are scared of being trampled or eaten.

“They tend to see us as potential trampling threats, and they tend to see the dogs as potential predatory threats, because the dogs put their face and their mouth right up to these snakes to sniff them and explore them,” Monk said.

“Rattlesnakes in particular are pretty slow-moving. They rely on camouflage and retreat first. They are very reluctant to bite,” she adds.

“Their venom is for acquiring food over descents. So if a larger snake wastes its venom on a defensive bite, it can take up to two weeks to regenerate that venom supply, which means two weeks without food.”

She also reminds residents that prairie rattlesnakes are the only venomous snake species in Alberta and are protected under provincial law.

For people encountering rattlesnakes outdoors, Monk recommends staying at least three to four metres away and going around the animal.

“They don’t want to have those interactions with us,” Monk said.

“They really just want to do their thing.”

Monk offers rattlesnake removal for free in the county, the city and surrounding areas if a bylaw officer is not available to do it.

“I don’t remove non-venomous snakes for free, because they are no threat to us,” Monk said.

She says younger snakes have less venom and are more likely to be afraid and strike than an adult snake.

If a person encounters a snake bite, they should attend their nearest hospital.

Monk will also be speaking about rattlesnakes and public awareness at a presentation at the Esplanade on June 5 during Pecha Kucha Night.

by Jesse Gill

Snake expert reminding residents to stay aware while spending time outdoors with pets

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