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Barnyard Buddies:  Puppy snakebite?  |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 5:49:49 PM
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We just got back from the vet with our three month old puppy. She came in this afternoon crying something awful and then her front foot and leg started swelling. We both thought uh oh snakebite. We looked all around the outside of the house and didn't see anything, so off
to the vet we went. The vet said probably snakebit , but possible bee sting. I,m not sure if it was a sting because she was having some ozzie discharge from her paw. Anyway she got shots of benedryl and cortizone and I have to give her more shots over the next 12 hours along with antibiotics and pain med. She can't stand on it and cries everytime she moves. Has anyone else had experience with snakebites and puppies. It would probably have been a copperhead.
Sharlet |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 6:27:28 PM
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We have rattlesnakes here where we live, been there , done that several times, pups and adults. Always keep childrens benedryl in the house, just in case, it will help til you can get to the vet for anti-venom. I have seen spider bites do some pretty bad damage also. I take it you live on the louisiana side of Texas, to have copperheads?
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Especially For You
True Blue Farmgirl
541 Posts
Tina
Watkinsville
GA
541 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 6:31:20 PM
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We had a Beagle puppy get snake bit on her nose. Took her to the vet school in athens and she did fine. Poor little thing I bet yours is ina lot of pain. What kind of dog is it? Good Luck with it.
Tina |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 7:04:19 PM
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My dog never got snake bit, but she did disrupt a whole nest of wasps on purpose. Her face was so swollen you couldn't see her eyes! It actually left a bit of scar tissue behind- she had a few lumps on the upper boney part of her nose/muzzle for the rest of her life- of course the silly dog kept doing it- she couldn't leave well enough alone. When your pup is better watch out that she doesn't just go right back to the source of the problem! Some dogs get a vendetta against what hurt them. I think their instincts tell them to kill it/get rid of it so it doesn't hurt others.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 7:43:16 PM
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I had to have a very old Newfy put down because of Rattle snake bite. I think If he was younger it wouldn't have been such a battle. But he was 15 and well over the life span of a Newfy.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 7:58:30 PM
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Well, I guess I feel a little better now , since most of your dogs made it. Sorry about your Newfy,Diana. She is half Great Pyranese and half German Shepperd and weighed eleven an a half pounds at the vet. Thank goodness the bite is on her paw. She still won't really let me look at it. I gave her pain medicine and she is a little better. We do live on the Eastern side of Texas and mostly have copperheads here. I try to be careful and check the yard all the time, but I had been watering today and that could have brought one up. We have chickens and guineas that stay around here too and I was hoping they would run any snakes out.
Thanks a bunch
Sharlet |
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 02:36:29 AM
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Just had a friend in Texas whose dog got rattlesnake bit and he made it. Sheesh I have to say I'm glad I live up North. My friend is scared to death of snakes and they're just thick where she lives. I don't think I could live in a place where I was constantly afraid of being bit by a rattlesnake or copperhead or any other venomous snake. You girls are BRAVE!
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles 
http://fantasm01.imagekind.com/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
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twzlrwho
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
christina
dewitt
va
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 07:46:35 AM
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Oh, I am sorry about your puppy. So the vet did give anti-venom?? Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
HUGS
 Christina
Work like you don't have to, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching :) |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 07:54:14 AM
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Sharlet, we had a full-grown German that got himself snakebit by a rattler on his front leg. It swelled something awful and eventually the skin actually split from the swelling. The vet treated him as yours did your puppy and sewed up the split with disintegrating thread. This was probably around '92 or '93 and he went on to live out the natural course of his days. Dogs do better than humans with snakebites and cats do even better than dogs. I've always been told to keep cats around to keep the snakes away. We have two outdoor cats that must be doing their jobs because we haven't seen any rattlers in the yard since having them. I hope your puppy is all better very soon!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 08:16:14 AM
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| Thanks everyone. Zuzu is doing better today. Her foot is still swollen and sore. I still can't get a good look it. The vet didn't give anti-serum. She gave her the cortizone shot and benadryl shot and the rest of the shots and meds she sent home with me. I really didn't know what she got bit by either. I'm just suspecting a copperhead since they are plentiful here and by the way she looked. The vet did say if she had been bit on the neck or face it would have been much worse and the paw bite was one of the best places to be bitten if it has to happen. Cherry, I'll be looking to see if she loses any skin on her paw. |
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twzlrwho
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
christina
dewitt
va
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 08:45:51 AM
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That's great news! I am glad she is doing better. Poor thing that must really hurt. If she didn't give her anything for pain, you could give her an ibuprofen. I am not sure of the dose (my mom is a nurse so I always have her do the dosage math..LOL). It is also an anti-inflamatory (sp). If you don't mind me asking...what are the meds the vet gave?
So glad to hear of the progress she is making and give her a big hug for me.
Christina
Work like you don't have to, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching :) |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 09:14:53 AM
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Thanks Christina......the meds were Benadryl injections, amoxicillian, Depo-Medrol injection, and Tramadol. Hope you have better luck than me figuring all of that out. I just give it to her and she is looking much better.
Sharlet |
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twzlrwho
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
christina
dewitt
va
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 09:23:14 AM
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Ok so you are set. Pain killers-tramadol, antibiotics-amoxocillin,depo medrol I am assume is a steroid for inflamation and benedryl is your antihistamine. I wouldn't give the ibuprofen with those unless the vet says it's ok. It looks like you are lucky to have a good vet.
HUGS
Christina
Work like you don't have to, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching :) |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 09:29:15 AM
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| Thanks for transcribing that into engish. We have only been here for a year and this was our first visit to this particular vet, but I did like her very much and they stayed open past closing time for us to get there. Its time for the other dogs to get shots so I'll be sure to use her again. |
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twzlrwho
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
christina
dewitt
va
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 09:40:24 AM
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Oh, you are welcome. Like I said my mom is a nurse so I get to learn alot from her.
Yes, she sounds like a great vet! I am curious about why they didn't give anti-serum. Is it just because nobody knew exactly what bit her or because the serum could make her sicker than the bite? I ask because when I was bitten by a Black Widow they said the serum would make me sicker than the bite and they really didn't use it anymore. So I was just curious if snake anti-venom had the same after affects.
Christina
Work like you don't have to, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching :) |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 10:27:36 AM
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Christina, that's kind of what we were told when Gunther was bit by the rattlesnake. We could see the puncture marks and by process of elimination, deduced it was a rattler. The vet said that Gunther could fight off the venom better on his own and the anti-venom could make the situation worse for him.
It's so reassuring when you can find a good vet! I love our vet. He always listens closely to me and is so very patient with my pups. One day I found a huge knot on my big dog's neck that had a foul smelling discharge. I figured it might be a "wolf" and called my vet up and told him what I thought. He told me to bring her right down if I could and I did. He took a look and poked around and said, "Darn. It's just a stopped up gland. I got so excited, thinking I had my first 'wolf' of the season!" Gotta love that enthusiasm over a disgusting little parasite!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 10:30:38 AM
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| You know I wondered about the anti-venon later on myself. Now I guess I know the answer. |
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twzlrwho
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
christina
dewitt
va
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 10:40:55 AM
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Not to sound like a ditz, but what is a wolf?
Christina
Work like you don't have to, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching :) |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 1:19:54 PM
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It's a nasty little parasite that are usually found on squirrels. Sometimes you'll see a squirrel with knots all over it. They burrow under the skin and grow there, feeding off their host. And they are REALLY disgusting! They can make the animal sick and act lethargic. When I was little, we had a kitten that got one and it died because we didn't catch it in time and the wolf stole all it's nutrients. Makes me shiver in disgust just to think about them!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 3:26:22 PM
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I have had one dog bit twice onebit once and a cat bitonceby copperheads. The vet doesn't give anti-venom unless the animal is completely comatose. They don't usuAlly use it in people anymore eaither.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 3:41:04 PM
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| I didn't know they usually don't use it in people either. My brother in law got bit by a small copperhead on the hand a couple of years ago. He was opening a gate and it was on the fence. They pretty much did to him what the vet did to my Zuzu. He was fine. Rattlesnakes could be anothr story. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: Puppy snakebite? |
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Puppy snakebite?
