More Info: Rattlesnake Vaccine

When I reported the results from Lilly’s wellness exam, our training and blogging friend KB over at Romping and Rolling in the Rockies posted a comment that she knows someone involved with the rattlesnake vaccine. She offered to ask him some questions on our behalf. Here’s what we have to report from his answers.

KB
explains it for us like this: “It’s really tough for an independent lab to
get funding to test something that doesn’t impact lots of animals. And,
if the company who invented the vaccine funds the research, the results
are considered to be biased by the scientific community. It’s a
catch-22.”

Vaccine Sensitive Dogs
“We would never recommend vaccination of a dog with a history of vaccine reactions except in extraordinary circumstances. That type of reaction is generally considered a characteristic of the animal rather than the vaccine. Thus, even if a new vaccine did not trigger an adverse reaction on the first dose, it is entirely possible that the animal might have become sensitized to that dose and then react adversely to the next … A reactive dog should be considered high risk.”

So, that pretty much solidifies our decision NOT to give the vaccine. We talked with our new vet about it last week, amid our struggles with Ginko. Since A) the research isn’t super deep and B ) Lilly is so vaccine sensitive, we’ll hope to avoid future bites or hope that treatment like what she received last time works again.

Here are two citations from conference proceedings, where data was presented. I failed in my search for the dog one. I had hoped I could link to an abstract or something. Maybe you’ll have more luck.

• 2005 Western Veterinary Conference.  Rattlesnake Vaccine to Prevent Envenomation
  Toxicity in Dogs. Dr.
  Dale Wallis.
• 2008  The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
  Annual Conference on Vaccine Research.  Evaluation of Immunogenecity and
  Efficacy of a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (C. atrox) Vaccine in Horses.  Dr.
  Jennifer Taylor.

While I was looking, though, I found a podcast interview with Dr. Wallis on a site called Bird Dogs Forever. (Scroll down to episode A3). Due to work stress, I’m sorry I didn’t have time to listen to the whole thing, so I cannot tell you how long it is or if it’s helpful.

*** Added More Info (lunchtime) ***
I know that at least a few of you WANT to give this vaccine, but your veterinarian WON’T do it. Dr. Wallis says that you can contact the company (866.897.7625 toll-free) to find doctor near you will WILL give the vaccine.
***

Rattlesnake Bite Report #4