By Daniel Wolowiczdanielw@theacorn.com

Curiosity killed the cat.

It’s an age-old saying, but true when it comes to animals and rattlesnakes—a dangerous and sometimes lethal combination.

No one knows this better than Dale and Jim Wallis, both of whom had cats that were bitten by rattlesnakes. Although their feline companions survived the bites, Dale’s cat suffered tissue and muscle damage that eventually led to a premature death.

The Wallis couple wanted to save future pets from the same fate. So the two teamed up and used their backgrounds in science—Dale is a veterinarian and Jim is a biologist—to create a vaccine that protects family pets from rattlesnake bites.

The result is Red Rock Biologics, a Woodland, Calif.based company that the couple founded and financed and that later developed a rattlesnake vaccine. Red Rock Biologics has gained national recognition since November 2004, when the company’s vaccine went nationwide and showed success in real-world application.

The vaccine is now available at local veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

Dale said the couple began their research by studying how antivenin is produced. Antivenin is the antidote injected into animals and humans bitten by a poisonous snake or insect. The production of antivenin is a relatively simple process that has been done for over 50 years.

To make antivenin, scientists “milk” pure venom from a snake, dilute the venom, and then inject it into either a horse or goat. Over time, the venom dosage is increased until the animal’s blood becomes rich in antibodies. The blood is collected and then goes through various stages of treatment until what remains is an antivenin serum. The serum is then injected into an animal or person bitten by a snake to help mitigate the effects of the bite.

Unfortunately, antivenin is given after a snake bite occurs and is not 100 percent effective. In addition, antivenin may cost over $300 per treatment.

The Wallis couple believed that to make a reasonably priced vaccine they needed to inject the diluted, detoxified venom components directly into smaller animals, such as dogs and cats. By doing this, the smaller animals generate their own antibodies and are better able to survive a bite from a venomous snake. The trick was finding the correct, nonlethal level of rattlesnake venom to use.

After two years of research, the couple’s lab testing on mice proved successful. They found the required levels of venom needed to make their vaccine both safe and effective.

“We were pretty excited when we saw the mice reacting successfully to (the) injections after they had been vaccinated,” said Dale. She said the next step was to test dog blood with the vaccine.

For humane reasons, no dogs were injected with the vaccine until the lab tests proved sucites

cessful. Ultimately, the lab re

sults showed the vaccine effec

tively stopped the destructive

properties that the poisionous

venom has on blood.

It was finally time to vacci

nate the dogs, and Dale’s pet

was one of the first animals

given the shot.

The vaccine requires two

shots a month apart and is ef

fective for about six months, ac

cording to scientists. Vaccina

tions cost about $20 to $30 per

shot. Veterinarians say the vac

cine should be administered in

the spring before rattlesnakes

come out of hibernation.

Dale is quick to point out,

however, that even if a dog has

been vaccinated, it still needs

immediate medical attention af

ter being bitten by a snake.

“In the past few years, there

have been three dogs that died

even after they were vacci

nated,” Dale said. “But two of

those cases were small dogs

who were bitten and the owner

didn’t get them to a vet because

he thought the vaccine was all

they needed. One he waited 14

hours to bring in, the other he

waited 17 hours. It was because

of the vaccine that they were

able to survive for so long.”

Dale said the vaccine helps the

animal’s immune system stave off

immediate death and keeps per

manent damage to a minimum. But it is not a final cure.

Although the vaccine has been available for nearly two years, local vets were concerned about its possible side effects.

Bradford Capper, veterinarian and owner of the Agoura Animal Clinic, said his clinic recently bought its first batch of the rattlesnake vaccine.

“We just sent out mailers to our clients, letting them know we have the vaccine,” Capper said.

Judging from the initial studies and from what he’s learned through word of mouth, Capper said that the vaccine works and is considered safe for dogs.

He recommends the vaccine for dogs that are frequently taken on hikes or exposed to rattlesnakes in other settings.

Capper said his clinic treats 10 to 15 pets per year bitten by rattlesnakes. Of those that are struck, one or two will die.

Capper hopes the new vaccine will keep pets safe from the deadly rattlesnake bite.