The nothern pacific rattlesnake is a subspecies of the western rattlesnake, seen here.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

A Kelowna veterinary clinic says pets bitten by rattlesnakes are up this month and is warning owners to be careful.

Fairfield Animal Hospital in Kelowna saw 14 bitten pets last year between May and September, the first three by the end of June. This year the clinic treated four bitten pets well before the end of May.

“The number of bites and times of the year the bites happen fluctuate depending on climate and how many people are out,” said Nikki Zack, an assistant and media manager at the clinic. “It depends on how active the snakes are which is different every year." 

She said most rattlesnake bites happen in Vernon’s Kalamalka Lake Park area and parts of Summerland, Okanagan Falls and Penticton. Two of the four bites so far this year happened in Kalamalka Lake Park, one in Wildhorse Canyon in Okanagan Mountain Park, and one in Okanagan Falls.

Fortunately the rattlesnakes in the Okanagan are not as venomous as the ones further south, and the clinic carries an antivenom that neutralizes the venom immediately. Zack believes the Fairfield clinic is the only veterinary clinic in the Okanagan Valley currently carrying the antivenom.

“It’s difficult for vets to carry it because it’s so expensive and there’s a difficult import process that limits how much vets can order at a time,” she said. “We always have to be planning ahead.” 

The other way to treat rattlesnake bites in pets is with a combination of steroids and antibiotics that reduces pain and swelling, and treats infections, but the treatment and recovery processes are longer.

Zack said when a pet is bitten by a rattlesnake owners should go straight to their vehicles, call the vet ahead of time so a team will be ready, and drive safely to the clinic. 

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Like humans, if your animal is bitten by a rattlesnake, it's advised to seek treatment within 24 hours. However, getting antivenom as close to the time of bite as possible is crucial to minimize the chances of permanent damage to the affected area. Rattlesnake bites can cause severe swelling, pain and weakness in pets, and if left untreated, the pet can die. 

The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake is the only one in the province and is generally found in the Southern Interior. The snakes are protected by the BC Wildlife Act and under federal legislation as a species at risk, according to the WildSafe BC website. They are a “blue listed" species in the province, indicating they’re at risk of declining populations, because of human encroachment and persecution.

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Typically fewer than five people are bitten by rattlesnakes in BC every year and the bites are not fatal if treated promptly. According to WildSafe BC, most bites happen when people are trying to handle or harm the rattlesnakes, as they are a shy, non-aggressive species. Off-leash dogs that venture off trails are at higher risk than leashed dogs to receive a snake bite.

Fairfield Animal Hospital in Kelowna is located at 1987 Kirschner Road an operated 24 hours a day. 

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