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I like to go camping with my two terriers. In this state we have two rattlesnakes that are common all over: Copperheads and Timber Rattlers. So far, the ones we've encountered have slithered away without biting. I keep my dogs on leashes when we walk the trails and won't let them sniff around hollow logs and by rocks.
After checking on the internet about this theme most info says take the dog to a vet. Good advice, But what if the next town with a vet is 20 miles away and it's 10 pm on Saturday night? If a bite happened on a trail it would take at least 30 minutes to return to the campsite, then to drive to a town. Too much time, it could be too late.
Anybody know of any procedures that might be helpful?
My 45 lb dog got bit by a rattler on the nose, I took him to the vet but it was about 3 hours after the bite. they gave him fluids and kept him overnight. I chose not to give anti-venom ... why because the vet didnt recommend it, she said it would only prevent scarring at that point and for his weight he would have needed 3 vials at $175 a vial. She said the thing to watch out for was the infection afterwards from the dead tissue. My dog never had any issues and healed up fine. I'm sure there are a lot of variables in snake bite's though. I think if it's a small dog it may be a different story, also how big the snake is. The snake that bit my dog was big and therefore knew how to regulate the amount of venom injected. A young snake will blow their whole wad because they are inexperienced. I'm sure my dog just got a warning bite with a small injection of venom. I"m sure the type of poison makes a difference too... I guess my point is that its not always a death sentence for your dog. Also there is a rattlesnake vaccine you can get that will make your dog react less to the venom... you might look into that especially if your dog will be in areas that there are rattlesnakes.
They do classes around here too for training your dog to keep away from snakes... sometimes it's unavoidable but if you have a dog that normally will not back down.. the classes may be helpful.
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
8,309 posts, read 38,787,526 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Visvaldis
I like to go camping with my two terriers. In this state we have two rattlesnakes that are common all over: Copperheads and Timber Rattlers. So far, the ones we've encountered have slithered away without biting. I keep my dogs on leashes when we walk the trails and won't let them sniff around hollow logs and by rocks.
After checking on the internet about this theme most info says take the dog to a vet. Good advice, But what if the next town with a vet is 20 miles away and it's 10 pm on Saturday night? If a bite happened on a trail it would take at least 30 minutes to return to the campsite, then to drive to a town. Too much time, it could be too late.
Anybody know of any procedures that might be helpful?
I keep two 1cc ampules of diphenhydramine (benadryl), a syringe, a small bottle of sterile saline solution for irrigation, one of those "pop" cold-packs, a pack of sutures, a kotex dam and some hydrogen peroxide in a little bag under the backseat. It stays in the shell bag during hunting season.
There are some perks associated with marriage to a nurse.
My understanding is that quick administration of benadryl is probably the best and easiest thing you can be ready to do. Dogs are dosed a lot higher than humans; ask your vet, but I wouldn't hesitate to go as high as 2mg per lb. of body weight in the event of a snake bite. Your vet would probably go higher and would be administering an IM injection.
I keep two 1cc ampules of diphenhydramine (benadryl), a syringe, a small bottle of sterile saline solution for irrigation, one of those "pop" cold-packs, a pack of sutures, a kotex dam and some hydrogen peroxide in a little bag under the backseat. It stays in the shell bag during hunting season.
There are some perks associated with marriage to a nurse.
My understanding is that quick administration of benadryl is probably the best and easiest thing you can be ready to do. Dogs are dosed a lot higher than humans; ask your vet, but I wouldn't hesitate to go as high as 2mg per lb. of body weight in the event of a snake bite. Your vet would probably go higher and would be administering an IM injection.
Any suggestions where we non-medical folks can get these supplies. I'm moving soon to the high desert and my "city dogs" have never encountered anything other than cat, squirrels and opossums. I imagine snakes are going to be a concern.
We're in the Ozarks region of Southern Missouri. I JUST picked up my 5-year old Afghan Hound from the Vet Hospital. He was bit by a snake (we're not sure whether a pygmy rattler or a copperhead) sometime early Tuesday morning. We think he encountered it in his pen (10,000 sq. ft) and being curious, went to investigate. It's been very hot here, and snakes are out hunting at night when it's cooler.
That morning we noticed he was having great trouble getting up. His hind legs didn't seem to work the way they should. He'd been treated earlier this year for a disc problem and we thought this was a recurrence and knew that rest was the best treatment. Remember - we had no idea he had been bitten.
By that afternoon the weakness seemed better in the hind quarters but he was now struggling to make his front legs work. I also noticed his jowl was loose and saggy like a bloodhound. Not normal in an Afghan hound.
I stayed up with him that night, watching him closely. Around midnight I noticed some blood on the hair on his right front leg. I looked for a source but found nothing. By morning the jowl had gotten looser and it felt like there was fluid inside. I called the vet the minute they opened and we were there within ten minutes.
They drew blood immediately and began testing. During the physical exam the vet found he was running a fever. After putting the thermometer in the dog's ear, the dog shook his head violently and blood spattered everywhere. Not a nose bleed, but coming from a bite wound right under his chin.
Blood work showed frightening pre-renal numbers, and severely compromised blood clotting factors (Thrombocytopenia). They immediately admitted him and began treating him with fluids and steroids.
This afternoon I brought him home. The renal numbers are back to normal, but the clotting factors continue to drop. We have three meds to give him twice a day. An anti-acid med for stomach upset, a steroid to fight the venom, and an antibiotic for the wound. We're not out of the woods yet. The thrombocytopenia is the biggest threat. If the factors continue to drop, we're in big trouble.
Snake bite is not something to be taken lightly. This entire episode has already cost us dearly, both financially and emotionally.
I thought I was doing everything possible to protect my dogs. We give them monthly medications for parasites, and biting insects; we watch their diets and feed the best food we can afford; we bathe and groom them often and regularly; we exercise them, clean their teeth, clip their nails, etc. Their yard is kept free from debris, the grass mowed, the perimeter weed free.
They've always had unlimited access to their yard through a dog door. Now I don't know what to do to keep them safe.
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
8,309 posts, read 38,787,526 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freesiia
Any suggestions where we non-medical folks can get these supplies. I'm moving soon to the high desert and my "city dogs" have never encountered anything other than cat, squirrels and opossums. I imagine snakes are going to be a concern.
I don't really know where you would get injectable diphenhydramine, but you can get literally everything else at Amazon.com. Amazing new world we live in.
Amazon.com: 3 cc Slip Tip Syringe with Needle - 22 ga x 3/4": Kitchen & Dining (http://www.amazon.com/Slip-Tip-Syringe-Needle-22/dp/B0002YFR8O - broken link)
Amazon.com: Adventure Medical Kits Suture/Syringe Medic Kit: Health & Personal Care (http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Medical-Kits-Suture-Syringe/dp/B000G7WR44 - broken link)
You can obviously get hydrogen peroxide and benadryl pills at any pharmacy or convenience store, just make sure that you get the regular benadryl where the only ingredient is diphenhydramine. They also make a "quick strip" that dissolves on the tongue. I haven't looked at the ingredients but it may be a good idea for a dog that is difficult to pill even in the comfy confines of the home with a pill wrapped in bacon. Hydrogen peroxide can do double duty as a "vomit inducer".
Even the oral benedryl - our more common bite here is copperheads right on the nose. And most dogs recover just fine.
I would not say "no big deal". A snake bite is a big deal but even humans tend to fare pretty will with copperhead bites with infection being the most dangerous part of it.
I don't have any real life experience with the rattlers
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