Snake Bites on Dogs

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

While out scouting for tommorow's duck opener, I saw the biggest freakin cotton mouth I have ever seen, his head had to be 4" wide.

This place I hunt has a healty Moccasin population, I don't even like to go there unless it is cold, 60 degrees seems to be the point were they are out an active, below 60 I don't see em.

Anyway, I am concerned with my little girl Boykin (at 28 pounds soakin wet) getting bit by one, and what affects it might have on her.

Anyone?

[BiteMeJeremy]

I know just the person you need to talk to....

[Glenn W]

Jay,
Salvo Woods by chance?
Sorry, no educated help on the effects on a dog, but I would guess your little Boykin would not fair well from scrap with a Cottonmouth.

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

nope Buxton, healthy snake population, needs to get colder.

[JRJBfishing]

It has different effects depending upon the size of the dog, and the dogs natural reaction to the venom. If the dog is bit near the mouth, you must be VERY carful that the airway does not close. There is LOTS of swelling involved with snake bites.

My chesapeake has been bitten twice, once by a cotton mouth, and once by a copperhead. Both times on the mouth area. The first time it wasn't so bad. Gave her some anti-inflammatory medicine to help with the swelling, and some benadryl for the reaction. She was out of if for a couple of days, ran a little fever, but was as good as new before long.

The second time she was bitten, it was a bit worse. I don't know if this was due to the amount of venom injected or what. She was hit dead on the nose, in a matter of hours, it was swollen to a dangerous point. Got the swelling taken care of, but by then she was running a fever of over 102, and really not doing well. We ended up taking her to the vet on this one. She might have been ok, but we didn't want to chance it. They gave her some different meds that nocked the effects of the venom, and reduced swelling. Once again, two days later she was good to go.

I am more afraid of gators than snakes to be honest. Most places around here that you find cotton mouths, you also have the chance of running into a gator.

JRJB

[Deep C]

No idea effect on dogs... Even on people its different. Got hit by a rattler once but he never got me with venom. Wasn't so lucky with a small cottonmouth....
Without the snake the local ER would not provide antivenom. Boy was I pissed! I know my snakes and the attending wasnew from up north. Rather than antivenom they pumped me up with about a quart of Benadryl. Got a buzz and got sick. Leg turned purple near the bite. Swelled up, got all shiny and the hair all fell off... Left a crater that scarred and eventually filled in.
Day after the bite I caught the little serpent *******. Took him to the ER in a big pretzel jug and sat it right on that doctors desk. He about shit... The chief of that ER is a close friend. Thought it was funny as hell and typical of me to get the last word in that way...

[birdhunter]

My lab was bit a few years ago in the middle of winter. I did not notice at first but as the hunt went on I noticed her leg swelling. Still do not know how it happened but I got here to a vet around lunch and her leg was so swollen and purple it looked like it was going to burst. Vet shaved the leg and found the bite mark and gave her a shot of some kind. I was then given BAYTRIL which is a strong antibiotic. I was also given the Baytril when she ran a stob through her foot in Ark.