hound down from rattler

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:06 pm

Just letting the gang know what is going on. Yesterday afternoon about 5pm I got home from running errands. As I walked into the house my boy came limping in from the outside. At fist I thought somehow he stepped on a thorn or sprained his foot or did it wrestling with the 95 pd doberman.

After checking I could not find anything wrong with is foot. At the moment I did not figure it to be a snake bite. I figured it to still be a bad sprain. After a few hours it began to swell by 7pm it had become pretty swollen.

I applied ice to the best of my ability and gave him some benidryl. I also hoped to locate a vet to bring him in to. The best I could do was set a appointment for 8am this morning. When I woke-up this morning 5am I checked his paw and it now had swelled grossly almost to the size of a small soft ball. He would not eat and hardly would move but just look at me. I had to pick him up and carry him outside so he could take care of his morning business and finally carried him to the truck to put him inside for his appointment.

At 8am this morning I was there as they opened there doors and carried him in. At first look the doctor said snake bite because of the great swelling and the not eating and hardly moving. We then decided to do a xray to make sure. Xrays came back negative. The next step was to lance the swollen area but first knock him out with what I believe was a combo of DOMITOR INJ, ROBINUL-V, ANTESEDAN.

After knocking him out and shaving the area we found the smoking gun two small holes about a half of a inch apart that was under his coat, Since this bite took place over 16 to 18 hours earlier it was to late for snake anti venom because the venom had circulated through his body already. He had his foot lanced in two areas which helped to drain the puss and blood mixture.

He was also given in his office visit PEN G INJ, DEXAMETHASONE INJ, TORBUTROL.

For his at home care he has been given KEFLEX and TRAMADOL

He has been home now since 10:30 am. He has slept or been knocked out most of the day. He still has not eaten for 24 hours now. When he first woke up he would go in and out of being knocked and his whole body would shake like he was very cold. I wrapped him in a blanket until it would stop only to start once again this has gone on for the last few hours.

What I hate most is I have to now keep the to incisions open and even on the pain pills he is in great pain. His foot needs to drain for the next few days. He just lays there lifeless I'm hoping from the drugs and not from the a rattlers venom. Hopefully we are passed that critical stage and this cant take hold of his body. The doctor wont give me a straight for sure answer. His paw is still huge but is draining but he looks bad. We know it was a rattler cause it was a poisonous snake and from the looks of things it was no baby.

So much for lion and bear season. I can actually care less at this point. I just want him to pull through this. He is a great dog that has shown a huge up side. If all goes well hes on the shelf for 3 weeks. Any suggestions from you folks would be appreciated. All I can do is sit and wait at this point. You folks have seen this before Im just hoping he is passed the stage we can loss him. These snakes are not just in the southwest.

Robb

HardHittin · Post by **HardHittin** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:12 am

Hope everything works out for you both!!

hitit · Post by **hitit** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:43 am

Sorry to hereabout your dog. Dont know if you have ever heard of using vitamin c for snake bites. WWW.LOWCHENSAUSTRALIA.COM/HEALTH/VITC.HTM
Havent tried it but sounds like it might work

bowhunter7 · Post by **bowhunter7** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:25 am

I've recently heard about a couple of old home remedies. One was canned milk and the other was lard. Sometimes there's wisdom in what these old timers say. Yeah, I know first hand there not just in the Southwest. We've seen 4 rattlers this year along with a couple of copperheads. Good thing about these Timber Rattlers around here is they are mild mannered. If a dog gets bit by a rattler around here it is usually in the face or neck, because they are messing with it and have it cornered. Bad thing thing is a lot of them don't rattle. If there bit in the leg it is usually a copperhead. They seem to be more aggresive and will strike if a dog just runs by. Here is one we found earlier this year.

az_gogetem · Post by **az_gogetem** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:17 pm

hey robb, sorry to hear about the pup. Around here rattlers are plentiful, I've even taken two of my older dogs to a snake breaking class.

For your pup, usually what I do is give anti-b's everyday, penicillin or something along those lines. I'm not sure how many people do this but I also put gatorade mix in the dogs water bowl, usually a snake bit dog won't eat for a couple days but will drink water, I think it helps but who knows. I've never lost one to a rattler so thats my .02 cents.

Them rattlers your way are scary I ran right over the top of one by fort grant about a month ago and he never even rattled (I jumped about 10 feet in the air when I saw him under me though). Have a good one man, that pup will be fine i'm sure in fact probably sooner than you think.
happy hunting

Grzyadms4x4 · Post by **Grzyadms4x4** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:59 pm

Hey Robb, sorry to hear about your pup. I'm sure he'll be o.k., it sounds like he got the attention he needed. Has anyone tried the rattlesnake vaccine? I was just wondering how well it works. The best vaccine that i can think of is Tr-Tronics!

Here's whats left of the rattler that my dogs tried to mess with.

I was coming down a forest road with my dogs running 25 yards or so in front when we rounded a corner and I heard this odd sound. At first I was pretty far from the snake and I thought maybe it was a swarm of bees, but nope. One by one each of my hounds took their turn walking past the damn snake every dog took their turn walking up and sniffing the snake. Boy I thought one of my dogs was sure to get bit as they were pretty curious as to what it was. You should have seen me dancing around yelling trying to get my dogs to back off. Then I remembered my Tr-Tronics that I just bought. I turned up the juice a little and when each dog would take a turn sniffing at the little guy I woulkd wait until the snake tried to strike at them and pow I gave em a little jolt. After I grabbed a big stick and took care of business the dogs wouldn't even walk passed me when I was carrying him on down the road. I guess they learned.
:lol:

I doubt your dog will mess with too many more of them snakes and If he does have a tri-tronics on em.

Zach

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:22 pm

Thanks fokes.... just got back from the vet again. This afternoon my boy began to get these tremors again. He has been getting them since yesterday morning when he lays down to relax. His head just trembles like he is freezing on a 90 degree day. The vet said its the venom still in his body. I think its the meds but....

We also drained the paw because it filled up with pus, blood again. It took me 210 pounds two women at the vet's office I would say 120 pounds each to hold him down with a muzzle on. Vet figured it was better not to sadate him. We had to open the cuts we made yesterday to let the paw drain. The cuts are right through the webbing to the other side but it badly swollen. These hounds are one strong dog all I can say.

Spokerider · Post by **Spokerider** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:16 am

Man that's tough! Hope he pulls through.

No posionous snakes here on the wet coast..........thankgoodness.

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:22 am

thanks he will pull through it..... I just hope we don't have to lose his leg

Cathunter10 · Post by **Cathunter10** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:20 am

Good luck Robb
Bill

Cathunter10 · Post by **Cathunter10** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:21 am

Good luck Robb
Bill

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:10 am

Thanks, Bill

He was bit on Wed afternoon so hopfully this swelling goes down any day now. Its whats holding him back. He's full of fire ready to go but its the swelling that the problem. He's on his anti's three times a day Im gonna kick this up to four times every 5 1/2 hours. How are things with you...Bency still got your gal

Talk soon, Robb

bluetick1976 · Post by **bluetick1976** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:04 pm

southwestwalker i got a bluetick that got bit by a rattle snake on the neck it started to swell a little that night but in the morning it was huge and closing her airway i took her to pete my vet and he knew what to give her.the next day swelling was gone and she acted as if nothing happened.she was 14 years old at that time i dont no what he gave her but if it helps his name is pete vorphal saltcreek vet clinic 307-746-4995 if you call him im sure he can tell you

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:25 pm

thanks, bluetick1976

bency · Post by **bency** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:06 am

hey there Robb,
Just wana wish you good luck, but sounds to me that your hound is definately gonna make it, i wouldnt worry to much, because like you said "these hounds are tough".

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