snake bite

[tylers dad]

Anyone have a dog get bit by a rattler and what were the effects. I have one that I believe got bit and am wondering what everyone's experiences were and the outcome.

[plottpappaw]

best i can tell ya is to look for swelling and treat it by giving it a benadryl twice a day(morning and evening) and 250 mg of amoxicillin twice a day(morning and evening) rattlesnake bites are a lil more tricky than copperhead bites. once the wound reaches the busting point you'll have to assist it coming out by squeezing it out. it should bust at the bite area. you'll squeeze then gag. then repeat. this is only from my experience. someone on here may have a better remedy.

[walkerdog]

I've had 2 bit, one on the forehead, and one in the neck, and they swelled up huge. Not to long after I could see the spot where they were bitten with the 2 holes and the area all around went bald and started to ooze. I did exactly what Plottpappaw explained and it took about a week for them to really start to look normal again.

[briarpatch]

I have had 3 or 4 dogs bitten over the years. Never doctored one and never lost one, but I know it can happen. I think the benadryl and amocicillin are likely very good, but I, personally, would not attempt to squeeze the wound unless it was IMMEDIATELY after the bite. IMO you are more likely to cause infection by fooling with it yourself.

briarpatch

[plottpappaw]

i felt the same way bout squeezing the wound but according to the vet the destroyed tissue will not ooze out on its own and will cause further complications if not assisted out. it will create a clot in the opening and the infected area will not be able to drain properly. i learned how to treat it by a vet that said you can pay me to do the same thing your able to do.

[tylers dad]

anyone have one bit that they did not realize was bit for a few days and what were the outcomes?

[plottpappaw]

it would be hard not to notice it almost right of. it could have been a black snake they can carry bacteria as they grow larger. could even have the same effect just makes it really sick.

[walkerdog]

I am no vet, but I think if a dog is going to die from a rattlesnake bite, it doesn't take very long.

[plottpappaw]

actually it is possible for a dog to be killed by one but a dogs genetic make up allows it to with stand more than most prey animals. but by all rights it should have been dead in three or four days but in that time period it would have swelled and split the skin like you cut it with a skinning knife.

[walkerdog]

See what I know The only dogs in my experience that have died from a rattler bite have died within a few hours.

[plottpappaw]

i believe walkerdog is in an area with larger rattle snakes. i believe the western species are much worse than ours. pacifics and western diamond backs and etc so the amount of venom is going to be much larger than our smaller ones.

[walkerdog]

Good point.

[plottpappaw]

i often forget that diff places have diff and sometmes worse species of critters than we do. so i can only give what i feel to be good advice on animals in the southeast united states.

[diego25Jaramillo]

If the bite wasnt on the face where it will restrict breathing, just give the dog a half a tablet of 500mg vitamin C and that will start to bring the swelling down rapidly.

[Benny G]

I have never had a dog get snake bit. Afriend of mine has, and has never lost one by useing this anectdote... Carry Dexamethazone and DMSO with you. In the event that a dog gets bitten, give it 5 cc's of Dex right away, and rub the entire area around the bite with DMSO. For example: if your dog gets bitten on the lower leg, rub DMSO on the entire leg, perhaps even going up on the shoulder a little. The idea is to have the DMSO carry the poison over a larger area. You might want to wear rubber or latex gloves while handling the DMSO. The Dex helps with the swelling, and the DMSO is a systemic, which dilutes the poison and carries it over a wider area in order to cut down the intensity of the bite. The DMSO won't hurt you without gloves, but for some people, it imediately gives them a taste of garlic or black licorice when it comes in contact with their skin. Once you get back to a refrigerator, you should have some Pennicilan on hand, and give the dog a LARGE dose to HAMMER the infection that is already in the first stages. Continue the 5 cc's of Dex twice a day for several days, as well as Pennicilan at the suggested amount for your dog's size, for about a week to a week and a half, giving the Pennicilan twice a day also.