Rattlesnake Bit My Dog

[ovrszd]

Well, just as I was commenting in the alligator attacts tractor thread that wedidn't have to worry about reptiles in Iowa the worst happens.

As I am doing chores last night I hear a chattering noise and I thought it was the insects in the trees, but it gets curiously louder. I look down and there is a rattlesnake looking right at me chattering away.

I ran back in the house and picked up the 12 gauge and some turkey shells and sent him on to the next world. After that some neighbors were by to see the snake and one of them noticed that one of my dogs faces didn't look right. He is a 6 year old chocolate lab and he had been bit on the face.

There is only 1 hospital in the area that has antivenom and they would not give t up for a dog. My vet says in his 30 years of operation here that he has never seen anything like it.

Anyway, this is somewhat related to tractors as now I have to mow more and clear brush areas to hopefully keep the snakes away. What next!!

I have some pictures but I wont be able to upload them for a few days. Right now we are giving him antibiotics and antiinflammatorys. The vet says at least the initial bite didn't kill him which is good and the prognosis is favorable since he was bit in the face and not in his midesection. He may lose some tissue but we'll keep him on antibiotics till that period is over. It will likely break open and fall off, hopefully he will be okay.

WOW,,, I live just four miles into Missouri just off Interstate 35 and we don't have rattlers. I can't recall where your county is??? Is it Southeast Iowa?? I never heard of rattlers in Iowa. I'd be just like you and be cleaning up around my buildings!!! Hope your lab gets over it, they are a great dog!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Tim, sorry to hear about your dog, but he'll hopefully recover soon. I'm not sure mowing and clearing brush will help. I've seen two rattlers at my place. One was out in the open where there is very little grass and the other was about a foot off my driveway, laying in freshly mowed grass. Of course, anything you can do to control rodents will probably be as good a preventative measure as any.

We can always count on Jim for logic and this time is no different. He's right on the mark, food supply is why there are snakes. Take away the rodents and the snakes will leave on their own. So maybe some cleanup will start that process.

Last year I let mice take over in my shop, they also moved into some flower beds. One day Terry came running, all excited screaming snake. I grabbed a shovel and followed her to one of her flower beds and there was a three foot black snake in it. I never have anything more than an occassional really small garter snake around. After killing the snake we set out poison. Killed the rodents and the snakes went away.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

WOW,,, I live just four miles into Missouri just off Interstate 35 and we don't have rattlers. I can't recall where your county is??? Is it Southeast Iowa?? I never heard of rattlers in Iowa. I'd be just like you and be cleaning up around my buildings!!! Hope your lab gets over it, they are a great dog!!!

I am in Jones County and it is Eastern Iowa right where the nose sticks out. I am a county or so in from the Mississippi river. The valley I live in with the Maquoketa river has a lot of timber and bluffs. Beautifull country. Mostly we just have black snakes and gardners but this is a first for me with the rattlers. I have heard of people finding large dens of them though. I definitely need to brush up on where they live and what they like so I can manage them.

I loved the lead poisoning quote as well..

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Tim, do you have a landscape rake?

I don't have rattlesnakes in my area, but I did find out by accident that a landscape rake on the back of a tractor makes a great snake killing tool. I was cleaning out an industrial field that is sandwiched between a small river and a railway ditch. The field is apparently a haven for snakes, mostly garter snakes. But as I was dragging the small debris out I also ended up dragging out a 1/2 dozen or more snakes. Each was killed by the landscape rake. The field was basically knee high grass and apparently good snake cover. It is now a nicely mowed field and nobody has seen a snake since.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Had an update from my family which live up the road from me (I'm still at work) and they said Maghnus (my lab) barked at them and was walking around well, eating and drinking. Also they said the swelling may have decreased somewhat. Sounds like if he makes it through the next 24 hours he'll be pretty good. I didn't mention before that he is 93 lbs and the rattler was around 4feet long but fairly thin. Wasn't a huge fat monster so hopefully the venom was minimal.

Tim, (sorry it took so long to respond, but I've had a heck of time with the website getting/staying logged in lately) Hope your pup makes a full recovery. Snake bites sometimes have a residual effect on animals. We had a English setter that saved my brother from being bitten by a cottonmouth (many years ago). Unfortunately, "Spot" got the bite himself where his hip and abdomen meet (obviously not a good place). He made it for a couple of years but we finally lost him (I was 10 then). Take good care of your guy as I know he's a full fledged member of the family!!! Keep us advised. BobG in VA

 

[Iowachild]

How close to Majestic Trails are you? Next weekend I'm going to Jamestown, NY to do some ATVing with a friend. Should I take precautions for rattlesnakes while on the trails?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

I don't know where Majestic Trails is, but I'm in Waren County which is right on the state line a few miles south of Jamestown, NY. Most of the snakes I have seen or heard about have been south of the Allegheny River. I rally can't say about the Jamestown area.

MIKE

 

[Tollster]

Old Faithful

A man's dog stands by [his master]
in prosperity and poverty, in health
and sickness. He will sleep on the cold
ground when the wintry wind blows and snow
dives fiercely, if only he can be near
his master's side. He will kiss the hand
that has no food to offer, he will lick
the wounds and sores that come in
encounter with the roughness off the world.
He guards the sleep of a pauper as if
he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he
remains".

Just thought I would share this with everyone that would send the ole'lady packing and keep the dog!
I remember my wife said when my lab dies we won't get another dog, told her right then eye to eye, "Guess you'll have to leave then cause I'll always have a dog". Never heard another peep.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

Tollster,

That is a great piece. I am just lucky that my wife loves dogs as much or more as I do. We have had this dog before we were married. He is truly one of a kind. Here is a picture of the snake and a picture of Maghnus when he was younger. I'll get a picture of his battle wounds tomorrow.

BobG_in_VA,

Thanks for the kind words and information. So far he is doing good. He had a red spot on his face where the flesh was exposed about the size of a nickel. I hope it doesn't get too bad. I don't want him to suffer too much.

Bob_Skurka,

That is good to know about the rake and I think I have used that technique before on black snakes or gardners. Nowdays I just leave the gardners be as they are absolutely harmless. I still don't like those big black snakes hanging around. Oh and for the rattlers, just the shotgun thank you very kindly

For comparison the chain link fence that I have the snake hanging on is 4' tall.

 

[ToddW]

Tim,

So glad your lab is doing ok, I constantly worry about my two, we have (mainly) water moccasins and rattlers here in Florida, and unfortunately dogs are not snake smart until its too late.

BTW, that is one good looking lab.

/Todd

 

[dirtydan]

I live in southern Iowa just off I35 and while I have never seen a rattler here I have heard of people finding one a couple of times. My grandfather's brother was bitten by one just a few miles from here and died. He was around 10 years old if I remember right. That was probably in the 1890's or early 1900's.
Dan