Rattlesnake Vaccine, Not Antivenom

ZooToxins LLC is developing a vaccine for dogs against rattlesnake bite envenomation. Often, people assume we are talking about an antivenom so we would like to take a moment to distinguish the difference between these two types of drug therapeutics. A vaccine and an antivenom differ in how and when they are administered to your dog family member. Antivenoms are administered in emergencies after a venomous snake, such as a rattlesnake, has bitten your dog. Our rattlesnake vaccine is administered annually to provide protection for your pet dog before a venomous snake bites them. Like any other vaccine, such as the rabies or canine distemper vaccine your dog will receive, the ZooToxins vaccine prepares your dog’s immune system to attack snake venom toxins. If a venomous snake bites your dog family member, its own body is ready and able to identify and neutralize the snake’s venom, reducing or eliminating the damaging side effects of snake venom. Importantly, we still recommend that you seek medical attention as soon as possible after a rattlesnake has bitten your dog family member. Years of veterinary experience demonstrates that rattlesnake bite cases are complex medical issues as factors such as the age, weight, body condition, health status, breed, genetic background, among many others may affect how your individual pet family member will respond to the venom of a particular snake. Because of this variation, it is important to have a veterinarian inspect and treat your dog as soon as you suspect a rattlesnake has bitten your dog family member.