Bird dogs, desert quail, and snakes

solitude · Jan 5, 2010

Each year I leave the frozen north with my drahthaar for a week or two on the beach - the sands of SW New Mexico or SE Arizona to hunt desert quail. Always having hunted the end of Jan or first week of Feb I have yet to see a snake, but talking with the C.O. last week he said it could happen on a warm day. Again, in many years I have yet to see one, but figure he knows better than me. For you guys that chase the desert birds in Jan and early Feb when the days can reach the 60's or even 70's, have you ever encountered any snakes? I figure most of you have snake broke dogs but figure running down a cripple could still bring a bite. I heard there is a vaccine from Red Rock that is specific to the western diamondback but my research shows mixed opinions. What do you guys do with your hunting fools? Have any of you used the vaccine and is there any need for concern with snakes this time of year?

Shummy · Jan 8, 2010

All my dogs have been given the vaccine. It was a risk I felt was worth taking and there were no adverse effects on my dogs. They are also somewhat snake broke. I've never seen a snake at 60 degrees, but I suppose it is possible. 70 degress is very possible.

solitude · Jan 8, 2010

Thank you for the reply Shummy. I spoke with three different vets in southern New Mexico yesterday and they all said the same thing - yes, they do vaccinate dogs with the snake vaccine but it is only used as an added precaution that should help the dog to deal with the venom better. A person would still need to get their dog to the vet asap for monitoring and possible treatment.

Shummy · Jan 8, 2010

That was my understanding as well, but it was still worth it to me. Anything I can do to help insure their saftey in snake country is important to me.

Califelkslayer · Jan 19, 2010

In my one 2 week experience in AZ, last week of Dec/first week of Jan, the highs were mid-60s, lows at freezing. No snakes.

I hunt chukar in Oct and have had a couple of meetings. Luckily both times I was close to the dog and they responded to my commands.

I've never heard of the vaccine but am interested. 6-7 miles from the quad, another hour to the truck and at least an hour to the nearest vet, I'm interested!!! Should I just ask my vet?? Or is supply limited??

Shummy · Jan 23, 2010

Ask your vet, there is plenty of the shot to go around and it's cheap at around $20 a shot.

runamuk · Jan 23, 2010

My GSP got snakebit digging around a stock tank in Aug. this year in Idaho. She has had the vaccine for the last three years.
Seems like she gets 3 shots a year,, Shummy is right they are about 20.00..
When she got bit it was on the foot, And it swelled up huge right before my eyes. I was 50 miles from my vet and a good bit of that was some real rough road. I called my vet about half panicked, He didn't seem to think it was a big deal, Maybe it being 1:00 am had something to do with the lack of concern

.
He just said meet him at his office if i wanted, but she would be fine till morning. I insisted on bringing her straight there.
He filled her full of liquids and antibiotics and sent me on my way.
The swelling went down to almost normal in less than 48 hours,the the skin/flesh around the bite rotted or died, but it grew back and you can hardly tell where she was bit.
Other than all the licking and a little limp she was pretty normal after the first 48 hours.
I have no idea what the out-come would of been without the vaccine, and i don't ever intend to find out..

Shummy · Jan 24, 2010

My dogs got an intial set of three shots and then they get a booster every year or so. The shot isn't any good against the bite of a mojave snake. I run into them occasionally, so that is still a concern for me.