VAIL SUN (Arizona) 01 April 08 Snake bite antidote in short supply (Adam Bernal)
With the beginning of rattlesnake season just around the corner, pet owners should know there are often shortages of snakebite antivenin for dogs because of its high production costs.
Heather Redmon, veterinarian at Madera Veterinary Hospital, said shortages occur due to the complexity of the manufacturing process and the fact that manufacturers must predict almost six months in advance the amount of antivenin they need. The process to produce the antivenin is also expensive since animals must be used to create the antibodies and the resulting product must be purified and processed, she said.
A typical snakebite patient would receive one or more vials of antivenin depending on their clinical signs and how well they're responding to the treatment, said Redmon. Intravenous fluids are also given to snakebite patients and plasma transfusions may also be needed in some cases, she said.
The cost of treatment can vary widely depending on severity of the snakebite, said Redmon. The cost of treating a dog or other animal is still much less than the $20,000 to $30,000 it can sometimes cost to treat a human patient, she said.
Though backorders on snakebite antivenin happen often, Redmon said many veterinary clinics have an emergency supply of it on hand. Even with a sudden spike in the number of snakebite cases, veterinarians can usually refer to an emergency clinic if needed, she said.
Redmon said that rattlesnakes in the area are most active from April to October. During a particularly warm year, snakebite season can run from mid-February to mid-November, she said.
Redmon said there is a rattlesnake vaccine available for dogs that has proven effective in mitigating some of the severity of rattlesnake venom. If a vaccinated dog is bitten, she said it is still important they receive veterinary care and be treated with antivenin.
Snake bite antidote in short supply