Did my dog get bit by a copperhead?

[beaglegun]

Anybody ever had a dog that was bitten by a copperhead?

 

[buckbull]

Damn, that sucks. Hope the pup recovers.

 

[jpc01101]

My Brother in law's lab has been bitten a couple times...on the face and recovered every time. Benadryl seems to help.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Copperhead bites won't kill a dog 95% of the time....

A rattler will kill a dog 90% of the time.....


Always keep Benadryl pills on hand during summer months.

 

[NoWiser]

I’m not on FB these days, but when I was, I followed National Snakebite Support. They have a few of the leading doctors and veterinarians on there when it comes to snakebites. Lots of good information. If you’re on FB, I’d recommend following them.

 

[Bigjay73]

Are there many rattlers in copperhead country? I always felt copperheads were more in cottonmouth territory.

 

[Sam Colt]

Anybody ever had a dog that was bitten by a copperhead?

Mine takes one to the snout on our ranch every year. She climbs me like a jungle gym at avoidance training, but every damn summer she slinks in with her nose as big as a Folgers can and lies down on the couch panting.

The swelling drops to her neck the next day and then disappears.

So far she avoids rattles and cotton, but those hersheys kisses get her good.

 

[Bigjay73]

Do they use rattlers to train avoidance? I wonder if they smell different?

 

[beaglegun]

Mine takes one to the snout on our ranch every year. She climbs me like a jungle gym at avoidance training, but every damn summer she slinks in with her nose as big as a Folgers can and lies down on the couch panting.

The swelling drops to her neck the next day and then disappears.

So far she avoids rattles and cotton, but those hersheys kisses get her good.

Do you take her to the vet or does she recover on her own. My grandfather said that copperheads dont kill anything but chipmonks. I dont know how true that is.

 

[Sam Colt]

Do they use rattlers to train avoidance? I wonder if they smell different?

They do. Ours use rattlers, cottonmouth, and copperhead.

 

[Sam Colt]

Do you take her to the vet or does she recover on her own. My grandfather said that copperheads dont kill anything but chipmonks. I dont know how true that is.

We did the first time. They said most bites are dry, but even if it’s a live bite, unless the copperhead hits a major blood vessel it’s usually just a waiting game.

The rattlers and cottonmouths are a very different matter.

Benadryl doesn’t help the symptoms; it’s just to calm her.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

I had a male Brittany get hit by a rattlesnake at a field trial a couple years before I acquired him. It changed his bark, but otherwise he was ok. He was given Benadryl. He sired some great pups for me.

 

[Gellar]

There’s conflicting information on Benadryl with some being adamant it doesn’t work and others swearing by it. I would try Benadryl and if the swelling continues to increase or doesn’t recede take the pup in. The antivenom for dogs is the same as for humans but a lot less spendy thousands of dollars less. Hematoxic venom starts the digestion process for venomous snakes. It breaks tissue and cells down.

 

[brymoore]

I’ve seen the rattlesnake prevention training. I’m not interested in abusing my dogs that way for the results. My dogs aren’t that tough.

I’ve never bounced into rattlers with my bird dogs hunting. I try to hunt smart during hot periods.

My understanding after talking with my birddog vet was to carry Benadryl. The concern is swelling caused by the bite. Wrong place and the dog can suffocate. He said the anti-venom didn’t work.

 

[gonhunting247]

Growing up we had bird dogs get bit by rattle snakes a couple times I remember. Both times they recovered in a few days. Head and face swelled pretty badly, but came out of it pretty quickly

 

[Moserkr]

Copperhead bites won't kill a dog 95% of the time....

A rattler will kill a dog 90% of the time.....


Always keep Benadryl pills on hand during summer months.

Interesting. My dog was bit by a rattler in west river sodak on a property thats known for them. The one year I gave any of our hunting dogs the first rattler vaccine, he got bit. Leg swelled up a bunch and he limped, vet said not to hunt him for the last 4 days of the trip. He howled and barked when left in the truck, wanted to hunt, so I let him. He walked it off. I like to think the vaccine helped. Next dog Id like to do avoidance training.