Speaking of Snakes.....
 

When I was at the vet today, I found out they have rattlesnake vaccine's! I never knew such a thing existed (and I am a nurse!) What are your thoughts...I haven't investigated anything yet. I am concerned about her weight with such a vaccine, but really if she was biten I would be shocked if she survived being (5 pounds 10 ounces) so small. Also, I found out that such a thing as rattlesnake training exists...some lady will come out with 2 snakes that had the venom removed, one of the snakes still has a rattle, the other doesn't.....she uses a shock collar with the training...the girl at vet who told me about this has 2 small pups (not yorkies)...one pup learned after 1 shock, the other after 4. I live in Tucson, more central though, not by the outskirts by the desert....but we go on walks....what are your thoughts, experiences???????:confused::confused::confused:

Wow, I have never heard of anything like this. :) But it is interesting. However, I would want to find out how new it is and if there has been any problems using it. Snakes are scary to me! So, it might be worth finding out about. But definitely get all the information and weigh out the risks. Let us know!!

I think that both the vaccine & leave-it training were developed for sporting dogs & herding breeds since both are likely to come in contact with snakes.:)

I had never seen it before but when I was at the vet today they had a big rattlesnake right next to a sign for the vaccine. Creepy. And Dr. Had just treated a dog for rattlesnake bite on its forehead just this afternoon. He said the dog's forehead was incredibly swollen but it was going to be o.k.

while it might be interesting to talk more about the rattlesnake vaccine i do not agree with using a shock collar on a yorkie even if it is to teach them to avoid rattle snakes. i'm pretty sure most dogs won't go too close to rattlesnakes anyways since nature has a way of understanding each other.

very interesting.. thanks for sharing

Well... I would never put a shock collar on my dog. And I don't know about all dogs, but I would bet money that any dog I've ever had would go straight for any snake they saw. But then I'm so creeped out by crawly things that I won't go in areas where snakes are known to live.

I took Teddy for a walk at a new park a week ago, and as we were walking back to the car, a snake revealed itself out of nowhere! It was literally lying in the space between the grass and concrete where we were headed (the car was parked in front of the concrete/walk area). If it wasn't for the fact that I think we startled the snake we would have walked right into it :( At a park no less! I was so shaken up...but thankfully Teddy is extremely cautious and when he sees/hears ANYTHING new rather than exploring he steps back or lies down refusing to move until he has been able to observe it fully.

I'll have to go along with several here, and confess my absolute disgust
with using a Shock Collar or Fence on a Dog. JUST UNACCEPTABLE !!!

I live pretty close to a Bayou, and am always concerned that a snake
will visit. I have a Doggy Door, and they are allowed outside unsupervised
through the day. Generally this works well for us, and we've never had
a problem.

However, I have herd of a "Kit", or some "Poison Intervention Inoculation"
which can be purchased. I think I've herd of Campers and those who Hike
having these (must be a Syringe or ?) that they can carry with them, in
case they're bitten. Sorry about being vague, but it's a distant memory.

Anyone herd of such ?

Thank you for everyones responses so far. Just a few more thoughts...In regards to the vaccine...I feel like these little pups we have, if she was bitten by a rattlesnake... I know that everything depends on quickly you get them to an emergency vet...how often do little dogs survive and make a full recovery? If the odds are good, then have little dogs have good response to the vaccine?

As for the shock collar with that snake training...I do not agree with shock collars as well...but if most dogs learn with 1-4 shocks...than that little pain they feel with learning, don't you think that is better that getting bit by a snake and probably dying!!!???? That darn snake on the counter at the vets office just has me debating! Now I don't know if I am over reacting, under reacting or what....just want to keep my little babe safe!

I have cared for one person (as a nurse) that got bit by a rattlesnake...she reached down to pull a weed...accidents happen, dogs might not notice the snake just like we humans don't...I don't know if my Furgie would investigate or not...and the antivenom it is treated with is very very expensive...(not that Furgie is not worth it to me)