My dog was bitten by a diamondback...

[Rack Bauer]

I need some advice from others living in south texas (or anywhere diamondbacks are common).


Kody, my siberian husky, is about 60 lbs. He was bitten just above the eye (I hear that's a good place cuz of less soft tissue). We got him to the vet about 30 minutes after it occured (took awhile to contact a vet after hours). He was administered 2 doses of anti-venom. Right after the first dose he really reacted badly. He was in extreme pain, was disoriented, and couldn't hold himself up. He lost control of his bodily functions cuz he was so messed up. At that point I thought he wasn't gonna make it. His breating got really heavy, but by the time the vet made us leave (almost midnight) he seemed to be a bit more calm (even after the 2nd injection of anti-venom) was able to hold his head up and seemed relatively alert.

Does anyone know what his chances of survival are? Please, don't sugar coat anything or tell me how the power of prayer will save him. God isn't worried about my friend if he's not worried about the millions of other people that are really screwed up in this world. I want a straight answer, if you can give it. I can take it. I want to be prepared. I'm very depressed right now but I have to stay strong cuz Kody is my fiance's baby and if he doesn't make it it's really gonna hurt her, but I need to know what's in store for us.

For what it's worth, the snake was about a 3 foot diamondback rattlesnake. I hope that's an adult size (don't know anythign about snakes, but I do know that the younger the snake, the more potent the venom). The snake has been disposed of and it's head is out of harm's way.

Thank you in advance.

[5Stars]

Wow, that is a crazy story, Rack!!

I would think that because Diamond Back rattlers are so common it might not be to bad because of all the knowledge that has been gained from those kind of snake bites, so chances are that the dog will be alright. Also, if the Vet allowed you to take the dog home then he must be confident that the dog will be alright, otherwise I would think that if the Vet were really worried that he would have kept the dog under constant care for a day or so.

Good luck, and let us know what goes down.

[tomson75]

Rack, I've got nothing to offer other than my best wishes....

I've been bitten by a copperhead and cottonmouth. I had minimal effects. If I were stung by a bee, I'd likely never converse on this forum. I hope things work out well...I've lost a few good dogs in my day, and it breaks my heart every time. Good luck , and I hope your dog pulls through.

[silverbear]

I need some advice from others living in south texas (or anywhere diamondbacks are common).


Kody, my siberian husky, is about 60 lbs. He was bitten just above the eye (I hear that's a good place cuz of less soft tissue). We got him to the vet about 30 minutes after it occured (took awhile to contact a vet after hours). He was administered 2 doses of anti-venom. Right after the first dose he really reacted badly. He was in extreme pain, was disoriented, and couldn't hold himself up. He lost control of his bodily functions cuz he was so messed up. At that point I thought he wasn't gonna make it. His breating got really heavy, but by the time the vet made us leave (almost midnight) he seemed to be a bit more calm (even after the 2nd injection of anti-venom) was able to hold his head up and seemed relatively alert.

Does anyone know what his chances of survival are? Please, don't sugar coat anything or tell me how the power of prayer will save him. God isn't worried about my friend if he's not worried about the millions of other people that are really screwed up in this world. I want a straight answer, if you can give it. I can take it. I want to be prepared. I'm very depressed right now but I have to stay strong cuz Kody is my fiance's baby and if he doesn't make it it's really gonna hurt her, but I need to know what's in store for us.

For what it's worth, the snake was about a 3 foot diamondback rattlesnake. I hope that's an adult size (don't know anythign about snakes, but I do know that the younger the snake, the more potent the venom). The snake has been disposed of and it's head is out of harm's way.

Thank you in advance.

Don't have any advice for you, ol' buddy, but I wanted to say that I hope Kody pulls through... you know how I feel about dogs...

[ologan]

Seriously,it all depends on his state of health to begin with,and where the bite was inflicted. I've seen hunting dogs bit while quail hunting and pull through.One unlucky pup was bit in the neck,in a vein I guess,and didn't last too long. One was hit in the face and his head swelled up very large,but after a few days,and anti venom treatment,was back to normal. Hopefully this will be the case with your pup.

[vta]

I would imagine it could depend on the age and health of the dog...
I guess they deal with this in Australia commonly, so hopefully this website could give you some idea...

http://lowchensaustralia.com/health/vitc3.htm

And this artcile about a vaccine that helps dog's survive snake bites...

http://www.simivalleyacorn.com/news/2005/0708/Community/007.html

Good luck, I hope he pulls through.

[Duane]

I feel for you bro. Hope things work out for the best with Kody.

[Bigdog]

I feel for you. You might wanted to get the dog vaccinated for snakes bites. My parents live in NV and my mother gets her dog vaccinated for rattlesnakes bites all the time. I don;t know if it makes them immune to the bites or that it won't be as serious if they are bitten.

[cowboyeric8]

I'm sure the dog will pull through. I'm in the panhandle and my dog got bit by a rattlesnake and recieved no treatment. Her whole head swelled up. But after a week or so she was fine. Granted I don't think she got that much venom in her. She is going on 12 years now I think.

But she is just a little border collie so I'm sure a husky will be fine exspecially after treatment.

[CowboyFan74]

I had two dogs bit in the face by rattlesnakes, they both lived. I think we took them to Spruile. Who is your vet? And I must say that the smaller the rattlesnake the more potent the venom is, you got that correct. Also we didn't get them to the vet as quickly as you did, we had to drive to town from the ranch, and I was a kid so I had to wait for my dad to get home, plus I was out in the brush and had to walk the dog home 1st. It was crazy the 1st time it happened, I was crying like a biznatch cause I thought my pitbull peaches was gonna die. The second time it happened my blue tick Hank came home from hunting and his face and his long ears were blown up like a balloon, no telling how long he was like that before we found him. They both survived, only scars remained.

[CowboysFan02]

I had two dogs bit in the face by rattlesnakes, they both lived. I think we took them to Spruile. Who is your vet? And I must say that the smaller the rattlesnake the more potent the venom is, you got that correct. Also we didn't get them to the vet as quickly as you did, we had to drive to town from the ranch, and I was a kid so I had to wait for my dad to get home, plus I was out in the brush and had to walk the dog home 1st. It was crazy the 1st time it happened, I was crying like a biznatch cause I thought my pitbull peaches was gonna die. The second time it happened my blue tick Hank came home from hunting and his face and his long ears were blown up like a balloon, no telling how long he was like that before we found him. They both survived, only scars remained.

Just to add to the potency question, I know here in California the snakes have actually become more venomous more than likley because of our droughts. As far as size 3 ft is about border line adult from things I have read. I am pulling of your dog, we lost one of our dogs to cancer, it was hard since he was young.

[Hostile]

Rack, a dog is better equipped to beat this than a human would be. In the wild an animal will try and get some cold mud on the bite. You might try that. If you can mix some moss in it, it can help. It acts almost like penicillin. Is there any swelling around the eye? Is Kody comfortable or not?

Sorry to be asking questions, but I want to help.

[trickblue]

One of my dachshunds got bit square on the nose by a Cottonmouth last year...

We rushed her to the vet. She was a little lethargic for a couple of days and her entire head was very swollen to the size of a football, but after a couple of days she was fine...

Dogs are equipped for this kind of thing much better than us...

I feel your pup will be ok... just keep an eye on him...

[numnuts23]

My dogs have never been bitten, but my parents had a cat that was bitten on the head by a diamondback. They took her to the vet after 1 day, her head was very swollen, but she lived. Can't say the same 3 weeks later when she was run over. :( no joke either

Hope your dog gets better man. I'm sure he will!!

[silverbear]

My dogs have never been bitten, but my parents had a cat that was bitten on the head by a diamondback. They took her to the vet after 1 day, her head was very swollen, but she lived. Can't say the same 3 weeks later when she was run over.

The only way to make that story better is if the cat's name was "Lucky"...

:D

[fan62]

Use to work first aid at RattleSnake hunts.
From what I know about humans getting bit.

If a person (and I assume Dogs), it is great if anti-venom is applied in the first hour, they will usually be alright. The person will be sick for a day to three days. Swelling will be huge for a couple of days.

As in all insect and animal bites, allergic reaction can be severe, according to each person.

I have seen some bitten and no reaction hardly at all, and had one friend get bit on the finger, and I thought he would lose it. It did end up being a bit stiff though.

I know one guy on the rattlesnake hunt circuit that got bit repeatedly and got no reaction, but still took the anti-venom shot each time. I think he had been bitten at least six times.

Good luck, but I bet he makes it!

[ologan]

Rack,give us an update. Hows the pup?

[Rack Bauer]

Update: Kody is still alive. We saw him saturday morning and even the vet said she didn't think he was gonna make it through the night. I've had two animals die in my arms and he was acting just like they did.

Whoever said "head swelled up like a football" got it just right. Kody's eyes were swollen completely shut by saturday. He's still swollen now but it's come down A LOT.

But now the deterioration is starting to start. He's gonna have some dead skin above his eye and may get some drainage out of his neck.

The concern now isn't the venom, but his kidneys. We have to wait another week or so to see how his kidneys react to all that dead tissue being absorbed back into his body. But so far so good.


I feel for you. You might wanted to get the dog vaccinated for snakes bites. My parents live in NV and my mother gets her dog vaccinated for rattlesnakes bites all the time. I don;t know if it makes them immune to the bites or that it won't be as serious if they are bitten.

Yeah I didn't even know before this happened that they vaccinated for this. Now that I know, all my dogs will be getting vaccinated. It's pretty cheap too.


I had two dogs bit in the face by rattlesnakes, they both lived. I think we took them to Spruile. Who is your vet? And I must say that the smaller the rattlesnake the more potent the venom is, you got that correct. Also we didn't get them to the vet as quickly as you did, we had to drive to town from the ranch, and I was a kid so I had to wait for my dad to get home, plus I was out in the brush and had to walk the dog home 1st. It was crazy the 1st time it happened, I was crying like a biznatch cause I thought my pitbull peaches was gonna die. The second time it happened my blue tick Hank came home from hunting and his face and his long ears were blown up like a balloon, no telling how long he was like that before we found him. They both survived, only scars remained.

My vet is Leyendecker but we couldn't get her on her emergency line so we took him to Voltz-Kremer. If you still have dogs on your ranch you should get them vaccinated. Especially with all this dry weather we've been having.

Rack, a dog is better equipped to beat this than a human would be. In the wild an animal will try and get some cold mud on the bite. You might try that. If you can mix some moss in it, it can help. It acts almost like penicillin. Is there any swelling around the eye? Is Kody comfortable or not?

Sorry to be asking questions, but I want to help.


He hates being at the vet as it is, and now that he's regaining his strenght he's starting to express that hate. We're taking him home this afternoon so he'll be back in his comfort zone (he has his own couch with a fan up close pointed right on his spot).

Swelling around the eye? On saturday I couldn't even see his eyes. We're lucky the snake bit him above the eye instead of on the nose. If his nose had swelled that bad (and it did swell just not as bad as his eyes) he would of died of suffocation.

Thanks for all the replies, Everyone. I'll let you know how Kody's doing after the full 10 days are up. Just have to see how his kidneys react.

[Hostile]

Thank you for the update.

I grew up on a ranch and on occasion a cattle dog would get bit. We never lost one that I knew of but we did a lot of doctoring to get them to survive the bites.

An old Mexican vaquero on the ranch, named Jacoba taught us about the mud and mold. I swear it had healing affects on the dog that got bit, Gidget. She lived to be 18.

The skin around the bite will probably be abnormal for the rest of Kody's life.

[CowboyFan74]

My vet is Leyendecker but we couldn't get her on her emergency line so we took him to Voltz-Kremer. If you still have dogs on your ranch you should get them vaccinated. Especially with all this dry weather we've been having.


Yeah there's a lot of new vets in Laredo since I left town 15 years ago. The whole place has really grown. I live in the Ft Worth area now. I hope Kody pulls thru. Keep us posted bro.

[jksmith269]

When we lived in West Palm Fl back when I was a kid around 1980, my brother was walking to the bus stop and our Black Lab saw a Diamond Back in the road infront of my brother and attacked the snake. She got bit a couple times in the upper lip (Blessing) She killed the snake, and luck was with her becasue how she got bit in the upper lip she basically just slobbered the venom back out. we did take her to the vet where she stayed overnite but was home the next day with no ill affects. I always thought and still do think she prob saved my little brother's life that day, as all of our parents where at work and no adults around to offer assistance if he had been bit...

[Faerluna]

Good to hear your dog is doing better, Rack. It's a long road, but I'm sure that being home will help him alot.

You're in my prayers.

[ologan]

Rack,if he comes thru ok,and it sounds like he has a good fighting chance, I would bet a couple of things happen as a result: He most probably won't ever get bit like that again,and if you have a back yard he patrols,he most probably let you know in no uncertain terms if a snake comes in his territory.

[DallasFanSince86]

Glad to hear Kody is doing better. Hopefully he will make a full recovery after these 10 days.

[the kid 05]

5 day update, hows Kody doin?

[Rack Bauer]

He's feeling better. The swelling has gone down a lot. Just a little bit still over his left eye where he got bit. And it's starting to scar there pretty badly. All that dead tissue, his eye is likely going to droop for the rest of his life.


Still don't know about his kidneys and won't know till next week (Thursday I think).

[tomson75]

Kody breed is a pretty tough one. I'm sure you're dog will be fine. My best wishes are with you regardless.

My dog, on the other hand, completely d my new apartment with about a pint of grease I had left over from two pork shoulders I smoke last week....and she might have to die. j/k. Not a pretty sight on my new carpet.