How are rattlesnake bites treated in dogs?
Animals suspected of being bitten by a rattlesnake should have immediate veterinary attention even if the bite occurred several hours earlier. Animals suspected of being bitten should be hospitalized and monitored for at least eight hours. If you see your pet bitten by a rattlesnake, or suspect a bite has occurred, you should immediately take your pet to the nearest veterinarian. Suction kits to remove the venom can be tried but due to the large amount of hair present will likely have poor results. In addition, the use of such kits takes valuable time that would be better spent in travel. Decreasing the amount of activity and keeping the pet calm is beneficial. Applying tourniquets is of little benefit and they are often poorly applied and create more harm then good.
