Rattlesnake Bites and How to Handle Them  

The warm months are upon us, this is when our horses are most at risk for rattlesnake bite, as the tall grass of spring comes up the snakes come out. Here are a few tips on how to handle a rattlesnake bite. 

Do not let horses graze while on the trail. Mow or cut down tall pasture prior to letting the horses graze in it. The majority of horses are bitten on the nose, which is the most dangerous spot to be bitten by a rattlesnake, because the extreme swelling shuts off their air supply and can suffocate them because horses cannot breath through their mouths. Bites to the legs are painful and swelling can be extensive so when riding in rattlesnake country keep your eyes peeled! 

What Not to Do:

·        Do not apply a tourniquet, if the horse was bitten on a limb. This could cause loss of the limb.

·        Do not apply a cold pack as it could make the injury much worse

·        Do not let the horse move excessively, the more they move the faster the venom circulates through their body. 

What to Do:

Call your vet immediately

Keep the horse as quiet as possible

If the horse was bitten on the nose you may have to insert a piece of garden hose into each nostril to keep the air way open. 

Rattlesnake bite Kit:

2 pieces of stiff garden hose about 6” long (or 2 12cc syringes casings w/ the tip cut off)

Super Glue

Vets phone number

Betadine Scrub to clean wound 

How to use your Kit:

First clean the wound, then place the horse in each nostril (the horse will not like this but it can save their life) then super glue the hose in place. 

IMPORTANT deadly effects of rattlesnake bites after the swelling is gone, some people think that once the swelling is gone their horse will be fine, this is not always the case the horse may suffer from any or all of the following:

*Infection

*Cardiomyopathy

*Hemolytic anemia

*Kidney Failure

*Liver disease