Copperhead bit my dog in her face

[orezok]

Had similar situation happen to my English Short Hair Pointer while quail hunting few years back. Dog was bit just back of the nose. Swelled up, looked ugly for days, but for recovered just fine. Only problem was it affected her sense of smell. She was nearly worthless as a hunter afterward. She would back another dog, but hunting her solo was a waste of time. She positively hated snakes after that. Became a "snake hunter" Went after them with a vengeance. Never heard of such foolishness as snake avoidance training. Sounds like something we should send voters to or maybe used car buyers rather than pups.

Perhaps you don't know what you don't know

 

[rekees4300]

Wow, they have Copperheads in Indiana? I was not aware of that.

Yes, mostly in southern IN. but they aren't common.

Copperhead Snake Information & Facts

 

[nickmags]

Perhaps you don't know what you don't know

Maybe about dog snake training', but I sure nuff know when some californio idjit is trying to pick a fight!

 

[orezok]

Maybe about dog snake training', but I sure nuff know when some californio idjit is trying to pick a fight!

You misspelled idiot and California. Do you know how to use spell check? :laughing:

 

[nickmags]

You misspelled idiot and California. Do you know how to use spell check? :laughing:

I recon I aint got neer nuff educatin to converse with such an erudite pomposity. Mahaps you'ns could traipse over to them Ozark hills and this poor country idjit could teach you some manners.

 

[nickmags]

I recon I aint got neer nuff educatin to converse with such an erudite pomposity. Mahaps you'ns could traps over to them Ozark hills and this poor country idjit could teach you some manners.

By and by, a californio, is a person from California. Usually, the local inference is, this is a perjorative term.
an idjit is simply a local vernacular spelling of idiot.
Even if I was poorly educated, which I am not, and did in fact mis-spelled words, it is poor manners to point out such trifling errors. To be expected in this day and age, especially from someone who obviously has spent too much time out in the hot California desert sun. Should I now put several laughing emoticons after my posing???

 

[orezok]

Hmmm...

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks Eddie for posting... I need to be more aware especially with firewood chores.

There are Rattlesnakes around the ranch... I've never encountered a live one.

Earlier this summer the little dog was barking up a storm and the big dog was right there with her... it was a baby rattlesnake... problem is the little dog is often fearless.

Part of why I love TBN is because of the safety reminders.

 

[dickfoster]

Last night while sitting on the porch with my wife, our oldest Akita took off after something along the fence. She got it, whipped it around, and then came back to us like nothing happened. We wondered what it was, so I grabbed my flashlight and saw that it was a two foot long copperhead.


View attachment 486841


She killed it, but we didn't know if it bit her or not. We looked her over real good, but didn't see any sign of it. My wife called our vet and he said to be safe, bring her in to the Emergency Vet Hospital to be sure. While on the way there, she started drooling and swelling along the left side of snout. She also had a kind of far away look in her eyes.


View attachment 486842


The Doctor said that dogs have an ability to isolate the poison and not let it spread through their body like it does in humans. The swelling got worse on the left side of her lips, and a soft feeling ball the size of an egg formed on her neck just under the skin. The Doctor gave her a shot containing anti histamine and antibiotics and said to give us some medicine to give her for the next week. He also said to give her two Benadryl twice a day. Cost of visit and medicine was $160.

Before going to bed, we cut off her collar. It was getting tight with the swelling. She slept through the night without any issues, and this morning she drank a little water. Not a lot, but at least something. She weighs 97 pounds, which is a little heavy for her, but she wont suffer too much if she misses a few meals.

From what we are learning, dogs get bit by copperheads all the time. Very rarely is it fatal. Almost never with large dogs. It's scary, but we're feeling optimistic on a quick and full recovery. Just another aspect of living in the country that we're learning about.

I hope she is better and up and around soon and that the snake got the worse end of the deal.
I don't know if my dog would have made it. He was stung by a bee and did rather poorly until I got he to a vet and he got a shot of benzedrine. I think he's allergic. Since then I'm constantly on the watch for situations with him and bees. I haven't seen any snakes up here yet but they must be around somewhere.

 

[EddieWalker]

Update on Athena.

You can see the swelling in this picture. It's on her left lip. It's much lower then on her right side. Also her throat and chest are swollen, but its not as obvious as her lip.

She slept good last night and is still resting today.

The scab is forming and Karen is keeping the wound clean with GenOne Spray. Karen spoke to Dr. Alexander on the phone this morning, and there is a chance that Athena will have to have surgery to remove the leathery tough surface that forms over the wound. She is drinking water and interested in food, but the only thing she is eating is raw eggs and sliced sandwich meat.

At 97 pounds, she's heavier then she should be because of her knee surgery, so there it's not a big deal if she loses a few pounds.