Heads up for snakes: San Antonio Pets & Vets
“Red and Yellow = Kill a Fellow.”
This is not a stock photo. This was alive in San Antonio in Dr. Powell’s garage Monday morning. Thank you sticky bug traps!
This coral snake was about 2 feet long. I wasn’t brave enough to get close enough for an exact measurement, but I feel comfortable estimating 2 feet long. When it opened it’s mouth, it was certainly large enough to have easily chewed on my finger. I don’t claim to be a snake expert, but this veterinarian doesn’t want people or pets to startle this guy (or his family).
Last week a garter snake sneaked into my garage; this week a coral snake. I think it’s safe to say spring snake movement in San Antonio has begun.
What does this mean for San Antonio pet owners? -Stay Away!
In my career as a veterinarian, I have treated many dogs for rattlesnake bites and envenomations, but I have never diagnosed a coral snake envenomation. However, Dr. Horstmann has diagnosed a few coral snake evenomations during her veterinary career. She reports that those pets went into respiratory compromise and required referral for 24 hour care for respiratory support with ventilator machines. Unfortunately, due to the poor prognosis (low chance of a successful outcome) and the great level of expense required to monitor those pets and operate that highly technical equipment, the owners of those particular pets were forced to make more difficult decisions.
I can say I will continue to keep those little sticky traps near the corners of my garage doors. If it wasn’t for those traps, I would have had two snakes exploring and possibly setting up residence in my garage. I’m sure most brands are similar, but for anyone curious, MaxCatch is the brand of sticky traps I will continue to keep in my garage.
Stay tuned, we will post a bit more info on coral snakes in a future blog post. In the meantime, if you have any questions concerning your pets and snakes, give us a call at (210) 654-7117.
We have seen several snakes lately one was a rat snake and the other got away before we could identify. What about Rattle Snake vaccine does it really work and what is cost. last fall our neighbor killed a rattle snake near the area we keep our dogs.
Hello Ms. Vance, the rattlesnake vaccine does work. We do carry the vaccine and could administer it if you’d like. I’ve sent you an email with a little more information on it.