|










Center-Sinai Animal Hospital
Serving the Los Angeles Community since 1969
10737 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 559-3770
Full
range of pet care and emergency veterinary services available

New!
Follow us on Facebook -- Share your photos and experiences with your furry
friends, find the latest money-$aving coupons and $pecials at CSAH!
CONTINUED BY
POPULAR DEMAND!
Be sure to take advantage of our special:
50% off your pet's first grooming
visit with our talented groomers!
Check our
Low Cost Clinics
Dental, Spay-Neuter, Vaccination
|
|
|

Read below to find answers to a pet care question you and your
pet(s) may have.
Check the
Ask Dr. B and
Info on Pet Conditions buttons to find answers to more pet care
questions from visitors, and a place to submit your own.
Want background music as you read? Click the
"cat ..."
 |



 |

|
A SNAKE IN THE GRASS |
A new vaccine is now available which
can immunize your dog against the effects of rattlesnake venom. The
new vaccine is classified as a toxoid. The weakened or diluted venom
from the rattlesnake is administered in two doses a month apart and
should be boostered annually. The toxoid stimulates the body to form
antibodies, which inactivate the venom in the victim's body. The
consequences of being bitten by a rattlesnake are directly
proportional to the amount of venom injected into the victim. Adult
rattlesnakes can control the amount of venom that is released when
biting. The more fearful or angry the snake, the larger the amount
of venom released. While it is true that the venom of baby snakes is
more concentrated and therefore potentially more lethal, the volume
of venom in these babies is much smaller than in the adults. Even
though the baby rattlers release their entire amount of venom with
each bite, the total dose received is often less than their adult
counterparts'. The fact that victims of rattlesnake bite can receive
variable amounts of the toxins explains why we sometimes see
survivors. Interestingly enough, these survivors become more
efficient at surviving subsequent bites, even when exposed to higher
doses! The explanation is that the initial sublethal dose of venom
allowed their immune system to become more adept at producing the
antibodies, which protect them during subsequent exposures. The
vaccine attempts to simulate nature in the same way.
Until now, the only therapy available for the treatment of
rattlesnake bites has been the administration of anti-venom.
Anti-venom is actually hyper-immune serum and is produced by
injecting small amounts of venom into horses. These "production
animals" produce large amounts of antibodies, which are then
harvested from the blood and concentrated as the anti-venom. It is
important to understand that the anti-venom is only useful in
countering the effects immediately after an individual is bitten. On
the other hand, the toxoid vaccine prepares the individual in
advance to be capable of producing the antibodies to protect itself.
Another disease where a toxoid has been very useful is in the
prevention of tetanus. Horses get tetanus more frequently than any
other domestic animal, by nature of the fact that the bacteria that
produce the toxin that causes the symptoms of tetanus is a normal
inhabitant of their intestinal tract, and is shed in the horse
droppings. In addition, the nails used to secure horseshoes produce
deep puncture wounds in the hoof, which allow the bacteria ready
access to the horse as it walks through the abundant feces it has
eliminated. Once the bacteria secure their spot deep in the wound
they can produce the toxin that will make the horse very sick.
In dogs and cats, one of the most common skin diseases occurs as an
allergic reaction to the bites of fleas. The condition manifests
itself as loss of hair, redness and scabs at the base of the tail.
The actual allergy is not to the flea's wing or toe, it is
specifically related to a reaction to the flea's saliva, or venom,
that is injected into the wound produced by the flea bite. Although
the condition is readily treated with anti-inflammatory drugs like
cortisone and improved flea control, this would seem like an ideal
situation for the preventative effects of a toxoid. However, efforts
to produce the toxoid have failed due to the difficulty of actually
harvesting the saliva from the flea!
I would strongly advise dog owners living in rattlesnake-infested
areas to vaccinate their dogs with the new vaccine. Never has the
old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" been
more appropriate!
|
|
|
Back to
cats,
dogs,
birds,
reptiles,
bunnies and other pets
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask us about
Pet Well Care, our own preventative health care plan

Email News
you can trust

CSAH Doctors' Hours
Monday - Friday:
8:00 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sat.: 8:00 am-4 pm
Sun.: 10 am-4 pm
Drop-Off's, Pet Pick Ups, Medicine/Food Pickups
Not Requiring Doctors' Attention
Monday-Friday:
7:30 am - 9 pm
Sat.:
7:30 am - 4 pm
Sun: 10 am - 4 pm
Continuing Features
Videos, Photos and Stories of Remarkable Pets and Wild Critters We
Wanted to Share with You ...
Pets and Critters Video
NEW!
CSAH Funniest Pet
Photo Contest
Pet Eulogies
Please check our
Pet Rescue Listings.
Trusted partners to find or place a loving furry or feathered friend.
|