The only good snake is a...

[DRamey]

I have run hounds for 39 years and have never lost one to a snakebite. I am told that a rattlesnake will kill one from a few minutes to a few hours and if it doesn't kill the dog the immediate vicinity of the bite rots out. I have had several hounds bitten by copperheads, one in early May this year but I don't do anything special for them except to keep them comfortable and cool with plenty of fresh water. Usually by the next day they are picking at feed. Within 3 days they are fine. Monday a friend of mine was bitten on the arm by a copperhead while working around a church building. He had to pull the snake off his arm, it was latched on fast. He has a lot of other health issues, black lung and heart problems, so he has spent the past two days in the ICU at Pikeville Medical Center. He is recovering. The reason I say this is that the health and age of anything or anyone bitten is a consideration. A pup would suffer worse, or an old dog may also.

[wvduece]

darn no need to take me to hosp if i had to pull copperhead of my arm just take me on to the morgue cause i belive i would die right there man that had to be scary hope the guy gets ok jb

[DRamey]

My wife tells me he went home late yesterday or this morning. I saw a guy in the ER once at Pikeville while I had my dad there and was there for his 13th (!!!!) copperhead bite. it got him on the calf. He was on all kinds of medicines because of all the bites. He cut weeds in the summer for extra income. I asked him if he wore snake chaps and he asked "what's them?" When I explained what they are and how much they cost, and after finding out where he lived, I told him about a place that sold them that was right beside the road on his way home. he said that he was going to stop on his way and "get me some of them." Incredible! I'd say, after about, I don't know, ONE time, I would have been doing something else!!

[coolbrze]

For some reason the right side of the pics didn't post correctly on this site. They worked everywhere else though. Very rarely does a dog die from a copperhead bite. I've only had 2 bitten by copperheads, one about 5/6 years ago and another last summer. A shot of Dex & an antibiotic (Amoxicillin or Clavamox) and they're good to go. This was ONE BIG SOB!!! Never seen another copperhead even close to this size.

On a side note, I have 2 friends (kennel partners) that lost 5 dogs last year to a rattlesnake in their pen. 4 of the 5 were Field Champions. I would have burnt that pen to the ground after the 1st death...