snake bites

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Now that it is starting to warm up...(ha or at least it should be). What do you guys use for snake bites, my vet gave me three syringes of dexamethasone to keep in the truck? Just curious what else you guys use?

[TexasHogDogs]

Fill them full of dex and full of Penicillin !  As soon after the bite as you can and that is about all you can do .  I had a dog get bitten three times on the neck in the middle of the chest and under the arm pit by a six footer last year .  Filled him full of what I just said and kept up the dex for a few days and the penicillin for a week are two he made it threw and done fine.  Call the vet and told me that I did exactly what he would have done and there is not much else you can do .

[brw7979]

I carry dex with me and get the dogs the rattlesnake shot. Dont know if it works but if it gives them a better chance its woth it.

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I forgot about the pen, we use combi-pen its a few of the antibiotics combined, works twice as fast and is only like 9 bucks more than pen-g

[jerryg]

Dexamethazone 1cc
benadryl
keflex 2/day
dmso topical on the wound area (helps with inflamation according to the vet)

[waylon-N.E. OK]

I've used a stun gun it works good. I don't use no med's however it looks like I should be using some meds from the other post. I am mainly dealing with copper heads, and water moccasins not very many rattle snakes here around my country and a snake bite is rare, if I don't catch it early I keep an eye on them & just let'em tuff it out and have never lost a dog to a copperhead bite yet, rattle snake may be different though

[leonidas]

GZZZZZZZZZZZ its what i've been thinking about the last few weeks. Damn poisonous snakes..... I actually like snakes,besides the ones I can't see in the brush. Heres my 16 ft burmese

[leonidas]

Can you explain to me what the stun gun is suppose to do for a bite?

I've used a stun gun it works good. I don't use no med's however it looks like I should be using some meds from the other post. I am mainly dealing with copper heads, and water moccasins not very many rattle snakes here around my country and a snake bite is rare, if I don't catch it early I keep an eye on them & just let'em tuff it out and have never lost a dog to a copperhead bite yet, rattle snake may be different though

[Cajunjag]

After having two bit last spring, I stocked up on Dex. Just remember guys, the Dex is not a cure for the snake bite, you still need to treat the underlying emergency of the venom. Give 25mg Benadryl and Cephalexin ASAP!!!! The Dex is great for helping break up the edema trapped in the soft tissue, but the benadryl will be the most useful when given as quickly as possible.

If the dog has any signs of airway constriction, haul A$$ to the vet's office! The dog can be saved if you get there in time. Most deaths on snake bites occure from airway constriction secondary to swelling, not the actual poision. Hope this helps and good topic guys!

[Cajunjag]

Also, I had my dogs vaccinated on the snake bite vaccine, but the vaccine is designed for rattlers. However, my vet says it will give me some protection compared to having nothing. For $28, I got it and considered it a investment.

[waylon-N.E. OK]

leonidas if you stick the prongs into the bite and use it for about 10-15 seconds they dogs won't swell up or show hardly any ill effects from the bite, I was doubtful until I saw it used and it does work. I'm not smart enough to try and explain how it works I just know it does, it's a 2 man job but if your way out in the brush it could save a dog, or you for that matter. Here is some googled info about it, there are as many people against it as for it, I know it works. Also Some guys only use it for 5 or 6 seconds, i like use it longer

"I first heard about High Voltage/Direct Current (HVDC) or stun gun,  electrical shock therapy for venomous bites in 1991 while living in Georgia where the bites of rattlesnakes and water moccasins are quite common. I read a medical article in the Georgia Medical Association Journal at that time which supported the concept.
I have a copy of that article somewhere, but have been unable to locate it, when I do I will reference it on this site.

HVDC has been used to treat envenomation from several sources including snake bites, spider bites, scorpion, wasp and bee stings.
My sister, Dr Jean Kincaid MD PhD, who was Chief of Staff of the Public Health Service Hospital in Ada, OK was an ardent supporter of HVDC treatment for poisonous snake bites and brown recluse spider bites and found it to be quite effective."

Waylon

[leonidas]

I guess my next post didn't post up. I googled it after I asked.I bet the shock sometimes gives a boost of adrenaline to somewhat counter effect the swelling kinda like a bee sting.

leonidas if you stick the prongs into the bite and use it for about 10-15 seconds they dogs won't swell up or show hardly any ill effects from the bite, I was doubtful until I saw it used and it does work. I'm not smart enough to try and explain how it works I just know it does, it's a 2 man job but if your way out in the bruash it could save a dog, or you for that matter. Here is some googled info about it, there are as many people against it as for it, I know it works. Also Some guys only use it for 5 or 6 seconds, i like use it longer

"I first heard about High Voltage/Direct Current (HVDC) or stun gun,  electrical shock therapy for venomous bites in 1991 while living in Georgia where the bites of rattlesnakes and water moccasins are quite common. I read a medical article in the Georgia Medical Association Journal at that time which supported the concept.
I have a copy of that article somewhere, but have been unable to locate it, when I do I will reference it on this site.

HVDC has been used to treat envenomation from several sources including snake bites, spider bites, scorpion, wasp and bee stings.
My sister, Dr Jean Kincaid MD PhD, who was Chief of Staff of the Public Health Service Hospital in Ada, OK was an ardent supporter of HVDC treatment for poisonous snake bites and brown recluse spider bites and found it to be quite effective."

Waylon

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it has to do with electricity disrupting molecular bonds of the venom as well as activating the bodies immune response

[ChaseG]

Y'all are givin me the heebie geebees. Snakes are the last thing I'm lookin forward to. Last summer I got bit last summer by a water moccasin and it put me in the hospital for five days. I prolly won't be Huntin much After I see the first one of the year

[5150hogdogs]

I use pen and ben it works good on cotton mouths and rattlers but last oct. Had a good family friend was scouting and ran into some rattlesnakes mateing in the brush he was hit three times one time on the neck one on the kidney area and one on the leg he didn't make it 20 yrds from where they said they think he got hit so needless to say I don't think I'll be huntin this summer

[NechesBobcat]

I've got a rat terrier that likes to kill water moccasins and eat them. First time he got bit he swelled up and I gave him a syringe full of liquid Benydril. Took him to the vet and they gave him more benydril and charged me several hundred dollars. Now I just give him benydril if I catch it early. If not I just let him tough it out. My older cur got bit on the lip last year and it swelled up a little but he was fine. I think it depends on the dog. I'm sure some could have a bad reaction and die pretty quick but I doubt you'll have time to save those anyway. My dogs are in the woods everyday of the year, whether I'm huntin or they're running around at the ranch while I'm bailing hay or they're running around the little creek behind the house.

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I think a lot has to do with the amount of venom injected, venom is biologically expensive to make so most of the time they will not give you all they make unless they are learning to control the release.

[zachW]

growing up i was allways told if they got bit on the head they will be fine if bit anywhere else takethem to a vet, we had alot of weiner dogs tuff out snake bites, with the head the size of a cantalope.

[dub]

Snake bite me and the only question ist big enough for a belt or just a hat band? As a kid I would go shoot the cotton mouths with my 22. I even bow hunted them. I likw a good pair of water proof snake boots. Good for water or briars. Plus if you go to step on a snake and miss the head you can laugh when it bites.

[hogdog9]

I dont care what kind of snake you have in that picture but if i ever saw it that head would be OFF......