The American Beagler Forum

This topic came up on another Beagle list and I wanted to ask here how you deal with a snake bite on your dogs.

We recently had a 8mth old pit/lab mix bitten on the left lip (only by one fang we believe) who we didn't find out about until probably an hour or so after he was bitten, his head was swollen up really bad. We gave him Benadryl liquid and an aspirin, then followed that up by Cephalexin. He was fine in about 2-3 days, we still don't know what kind of snake got him, but our guess was a copperhead.

On the other list they talked about using dexamethasone along with the Benadryl, does anyone have any experience with this? How do you get it, from your vet?

I remember years back my father had a dog that was snake bit who died (old Coonhound), but I'm not sure what type of snake (thinking rattler or cottonmouth). This recent bite on the pit/lab mix puppy had us really thinking about what to do in this situation if it happens again.

btt

you did the right thing . copperhead they will usually get over it in a few days. rattlers if they make it usually takes a week or so. will usually rot out a bite.

How to treat a snake-bit dog depends on what kind of snake bit the dog.

In the case of a copperhead biting a large dog like a pit/lab mix, I wouldn't even worry about it. Copperheads have extremely weak venom and are only a danger to smaller dogs and animals. I might be a little worried if one bit a beagle (especially a small one), but the dex and Benadryl are both standards treatment protocols for light-venomed serpents.

If the dog was bitten by an Eastern (or Western) Diamondback, however, or a Coral Snake, your dog's chances of survival would be slim w/o veterinary care, including IV antiserum for that particular species.

Interestingly, there is research that suggests that light electric shock therapy can drastically reduce the effects of venom. Human stun-guns have actually been modified to this purpose. Do not try this at home with any old stun-gun, as dogs are extremely succeptible to electricity. However, there is research to suggest that a properly-modified stun gun, applied to a fresh bite-wound, will dramatically reduce the effects of the venom.

A Review of Electric Shock Treatment for Snakebites
(Just Say NO...)
By Chad Arment
http://www.herper.com/venom/electro.html

currdogg wrote:A Review of Electric Shock Treatment for Snakebites
(Just Say NO...)
By Chad Arment
http://www.herper.com/venom/electro.html

That was an interesting counter-article. I don't remember where I read the positive article on electro-therapy first, that prompted me to mention it, but it was years ago and involved bites of brown recluse spiders also.

One of the mentions made in the article you provided were the incidents of people actually electrocuting themselves by ignorantly using too much electricity. However, as I said above, "Do not try this at home with any old stun-gun, as dogs are extremely succeptible to electricity." That I did remember. I suppose this same logic would apply to humans not bright enough to use REDUCED levels of electricity for self-treatment, as opposed to zapping themselves into oblivion by using lethal (or harmful) levels

The trouble with articles like the above (actually, as well as all-too-many articles) lies in the repeated use of words "may," "could be," "possibly," etc., which indicates their entire articles are formed based on pure speculation. And then, as support for their premises, the authors then use every bad instance of people not applying the shock medium correctly as a means to build a strawman to knock down. I guess that would be tantamount to using cases where people have overdosed on morphine as a means to conclude the use of this drug is always negative, despite its positive applications when used correctly and at the right dosages.

The study I remember reading suggested a very specific range of application, and that a SPECIALIZED and MODIFIED stun gun should be used, as I likewise stated. Certainly, no proponent has ever said "hook your face up to any amount of electricity you care to" and you will be cured

Anyway, even the above counter-article you provided, in its own cited reference material, contained a sizeble body of articles in support of shock treatment (that they chose to ignore). Thus it all boils down to what a person wants to believe. There have likewise been many pro-con articles written in support/denial of electrotherapy on mental patients. A quick search I did showed there are likewise many reference sites that do support the procedure:

http://venomshock.wikidot.com

"The most striking results have been obtained by researchers at Hospital Vozandes in Ecuador where electrical treatment of snakebite is a government-endorsed program. In one study, 299 snakebite patients were treated with various approaches; conventional therapy resulted in >20% morbidity and 5% mortality. In the same population, treatment by electrical shock had 1% morbidity and no mortality, a substantial improvement over conventional treatment results."

However, the above material came more than 20 years ago. I likewise read some medical tests that have been done as recently as 2 years ago that suggest this electroshock method was ineffective. I have a friend (Mike Boyll) who is a venomous snake expert (he was asked to be the director of the DC zoo years back), and is a personal friend of Bill Haast, perhaps the country's foremost provider of snake venom for research. I placed a phone call with Mike today to get his opinion on the subject and will post it later today or tomorrow after we speak.

Well, I spoke with my friend Mike Boyll, and he concurs that in fact the electric shock application does not work.

This man has himself been bitten 15 times by venomous serpents, and told me that it is a statistical fact that 60% of "first bites" any snake delivers are infact "dry bites" with little or no envenomation. Mike told me he personally asked the late Dr. Sherman Minton (who, before his death, was the foremost authority on the subject) about the subject of electro-therapy, and Mr. Minton stated the application simply did not work. Mike also stated that Bill Haast (who, now at 99 years of age, has himself been bitten over 180x by venomous serpents) rejects this as a workable solution also.

So thank you for posting the correction.

Thanks guys!

Any info on how dangerous a Cottonmouth bite is versus a Copperhead or Rattler?

Do any of you know how to get dexamethasone?

got a 11mth. old bit last night got him in the ear bled more than any ive had bit poor old feller looks pitiful gave him a big dose of benydril and a little pain killer didnt get him back till this morn 1st one i had to eat right after bein bit.