Mother Nature Strikes Back

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Dogs Hope Rescue is located in a wooded area - many acres of woods although I only own a small portion of this. My house and the dog pens are surrounded by woods literally on all four sides except for the driveway. This is all very wonderful, but it comes with a price. The woods is also home to many creatures, some good and some not so good.

Unfortunately a copperhead snake has taken up residence next to, or actually in one of the dog's pens. Last week two of the dogs got minor bites, one a bit worse than the other. Last night, right before dark, I heard a commotion of barking, went out to investigate and heard something in the corner of the pen that sounded almost like rattling. Then I saw the snake - he was brown blotched, so unlikely to have been a rattlesnake. Anyway, I quickly went into the pen and managed to get two of the three dogs out and thrown through the door to the basement. By the time I got back to get the next one, SanJay, he didn't come and then he dic come but limping and holding his paw in the air. Got him in and went for the fourth dog, Megan who stays in the adjacent pen. She was also limping and holding her paw in the air.

I've been researching snake bite, and recently learned that dogs don't generally die from copperhead bites. Two dogs last year were bitten, seriously, and did get very ill. One of them did just about die, but a few weeks of antibiotics and other medications pulled her through. So anyway, I didn't totally panic last night.

I gave both of them Benadryl (Diphenhydramine antihistamine) and put them in their crates. Then I fixed their food, thinking that if they ate, they weren't too seriously bitten. Both dogs ate, but lay down holding their paws up in the air obviously in pain. From my previous experience last year, I had learned that it is a really bad idea to give pain medicine to a dog who has had a snake bite (it interferes with other medications), so they had to just tough out the pain - which is serious.

I called the emergency clinic, which said bring them in immediately. Well, I still had about 15 dogs outside to deal with, so this was virtually impossible, so I started on my usual chores - except faster than usual - checking on Megan lab, and SanJay pointer every few minutes. SanJay's paw swelled up significantly.
Anyway, by the time I had the other dogs in and fed, these babies were still doing ok, so I decided to wait until this morning to make a decision about the vet.

SanJay's paw was much improved by this morning - hardly any swelling or limping, so I was not too concerned about him. Megan's entire leg was really swollen though. I gave both dogs more benedryl. Megan also could walk without much limping and would let me examine her leg. I think she was really enjoying the extra attention and I put her in a different pen - no more snake.

Anyway, I had to participate in an event at work this morning, so I ended up starting her on antibiotics and just coming on to work - of course I have been worrying all day, but I do think this bite, since it was on the leg and not on her face or throat (like my dogs last year), was not too serious.

Now, what to do about the snakes? The only plan I have so far is to clear the leaves and other woods debris out from around the edge of my fence (not easy to do in 90 degree weather) and to put up a spotlight on the side where the snake has been hanging out.

There are a few useful sites up where you can learn about snakebite and dogs. If you live in an area where they have rattlesnakes - not taking the dog to the vet is not and option - go immediately. Other snakes also are far more serious than copperheads.

I will be sure to update this as soon as possible. It happened at the worst possible time - I have to work tomorrow too - Saturday, and there is no option for getting a substitute.