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Started By
Message
Dog bit by snake. Prob copper head.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 5:46 pm
Posted on 6/5/25 at 5:46 pm
LINK 
LINK
Please consider this a reminder regarding dogs and snakes this time of year.
I highly recommend getting the snake vaccine for your dogs, especially if they are outdoors and working dogs.
We get the vaccine every year for all our dogs because they are always running around on our property.
Hunting for doves, swimming in the ponds or just playing. The only thing we have are rattlesnakes, but that’s the prime reason they get the shot.
Never had a bite, till last week.
Pics in the link, after one week.
Loki and I were exploring a creek south of Fort Worth looking for fossils.
Never saw or heard him get bit, found some swelling and bleeding the next day.
I suspect a small copper head being down in a rocky creek bed surrounded by wetlands.
Could have been a moccasin or rattler, but copper head is most likely.
I ruffled his hair so you can see the bites at this point there is no more swelling and only two small patches where the hair fell out and he is healing well.
He was exhibiting no other symptoms other than at the site. We kept it clean and applied a good anti biotic cream in case we had any issues w necrosis and watched the wounds closely.
Called our vet and was told just keep an eye on him and make sure no necrosis or other issues came up.
I happened to be at our vet in Coleman yesterday, a week after the bite, and saw our vet. She wanted to see how the wounds looked. A little crusty, but healing nicely after a week.
We think it either was a light amount of venom, common, or that the snake bite vaccine really did what it was supposed to do.
Loki will be fine, no scarring or necrosis.
I highly recommend the vaccine. It isn’t complete protection, it’s just a start.
But it’s cheap insurance to protect your pet and give them a fighting chance against rattle snakes, copper heads and moccasins.
Keep in mind, the vaccine is usually about $50.
Anti venom can be north of a thousand.
LINK
Please consider this a reminder regarding dogs and snakes this time of year.
I highly recommend getting the snake vaccine for your dogs, especially if they are outdoors and working dogs.
We get the vaccine every year for all our dogs because they are always running around on our property.
Hunting for doves, swimming in the ponds or just playing. The only thing we have are rattlesnakes, but that’s the prime reason they get the shot.
Never had a bite, till last week.
Pics in the link, after one week.
Loki and I were exploring a creek south of Fort Worth looking for fossils.
Never saw or heard him get bit, found some swelling and bleeding the next day.
I suspect a small copper head being down in a rocky creek bed surrounded by wetlands.
Could have been a moccasin or rattler, but copper head is most likely.
I ruffled his hair so you can see the bites at this point there is no more swelling and only two small patches where the hair fell out and he is healing well.
He was exhibiting no other symptoms other than at the site. We kept it clean and applied a good anti biotic cream in case we had any issues w necrosis and watched the wounds closely.
Called our vet and was told just keep an eye on him and make sure no necrosis or other issues came up.
I happened to be at our vet in Coleman yesterday, a week after the bite, and saw our vet. She wanted to see how the wounds looked. A little crusty, but healing nicely after a week.
We think it either was a light amount of venom, common, or that the snake bite vaccine really did what it was supposed to do.
Loki will be fine, no scarring or necrosis.
I highly recommend the vaccine. It isn’t complete protection, it’s just a start.
But it’s cheap insurance to protect your pet and give them a fighting chance against rattle snakes, copper heads and moccasins.
Keep in mind, the vaccine is usually about $50.
Anti venom can be north of a thousand.
This post was edited on 6/5/25 at 6:00 pm
15
Posted on 6/5/25 at 8:10 pm to Bigsampson
I just went to the vet today to pick heart worm medicine and asked about snake bites. They gave me a print out of the dosage for Benadryl by weight and gave me a prescription for prednisone.
Tell me about the snake bite vaccine please.
Tell me about the snake bite vaccine please.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 8:18 pm to Bigsampson
I’ve thought about that, but we don’t have rattlesnakes.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 8:29 pm to Old Man and a Porch
Benadryl is not effective for snakebites,I wonder why vet’s office gave printout of doses for dog’s weight.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 9:16 pm to Theduckhunter
I don’t think it works for eastern diamondbacks. That’s all I’m worried about here.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 9:30 pm to Theduckhunter
I thought the vaccine was only for rattlesnake.
But, vet explained that it is for all rattle snakes, moccasins and copper heads.
It does not render a dog immune.
It gives you time to seek a vet and hopefully minimizes the effects of the bite.
You get two shots the first years, one booster a year after.
I have friends that have land out west where we are that have lots of experience w snake bites and swear by them.
In Fort Worth, the vets will hit you about 100 bucks for the shot. Country vets usually 30 or 40 bucks.
Between all the people that I know that have had the shot and our experience (could still have been a dry bite) we def will keep them up. 50 bucks for a vaccine or huuuge bucks for antivenom, and maybe reducing or eliminating crippling and disfiguring necrosis.
Easy choice.
But, vet explained that it is for all rattle snakes, moccasins and copper heads.
It does not render a dog immune.
It gives you time to seek a vet and hopefully minimizes the effects of the bite.
You get two shots the first years, one booster a year after.
I have friends that have land out west where we are that have lots of experience w snake bites and swear by them.
In Fort Worth, the vets will hit you about 100 bucks for the shot. Country vets usually 30 or 40 bucks.
Between all the people that I know that have had the shot and our experience (could still have been a dry bite) we def will keep them up. 50 bucks for a vaccine or huuuge bucks for antivenom, and maybe reducing or eliminating crippling and disfiguring necrosis.
Easy choice.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 9:43 pm to Bigsampson
delete
This post was edited on 6/5/25 at 9:45 pm
Posted on 6/5/25 at 9:43 pm to Bigsampson
We had a dog get bit in the face by a cottonmouth a couple years ago. Her face swole up pretty bad but she was fine a few days later.
I’m not too worried about a snake bite on a dog.
I’m not too worried about a snake bite on a dog.
This post was edited on 6/6/25 at 8:19 am
Posted on 6/6/25 at 6:59 am to REB BEER
quote:
We had a dog get bit in the face by a cottonmouth a couple years ago. Her fave swole up pretty bad but she was fine a few days later.
Same for several dogs we had in my youth. Dogs are tough.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 8:34 am to LSUA 75
quote:
Benadryl is not effective for snakebites,I wonder why vet’s office gave printout of doses for dog’s weight.
We just had an EMS professional who was doing a first aid class (he teaches them professionally) tell us this past month to don't bother going to the vet for a dog bite, just give them Benadryl.
He lives in Texas and his dog has been bitten twice by rattlesnakes. The first time he took it to the vet and saw that all they did was give Benadryl, so the next time he just did it himself.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 9:00 am to VolSquatch
Benadryl only is effective for swelling does nothing for necrosis.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 9:31 am to aTmTexas Dillo
quote:
Same for several dogs we had in my youth. Dogs are tough.
It all depends. There are too many factors at play to just say they will be fine. I posted here when it happened to us, I had 2 dogs bitten the same day.
GSP was bit on the paw, 1 vile of anti venom and he was fine after 2 day stay at the vet.
Yorkie (mean arse snake killing SOB) took a bite to the armpit area near the chest. 5 viles of anti venom and he didn't make it, less than 12 hours after the bite he was gone.
Depends on where the bite is and how much venom they get injected with much more than the type of snake. Both vets we saw said it's all pit viper venom, dogs react the same regardless of the type of snake.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 10:16 am to Bigsampson
I had a terrier bitten by a snake, probably a cottonmouth, and she recovered well. However she lost some liver functionality and was a mean little bitch after that happened. 
Posted on 6/6/25 at 11:32 am to Bigsampson
Only snakebites you have to worry about on larger breeds are rattlesnakes. They’ll shake off cottonmouth/copperhead bites after a few days of swelling
Posted on 6/6/25 at 12:40 pm to Old Man and a Porch
quote:nHaving gone this route twice - the venom gets broken down in kidneys you need to KEEP them HYDRATED - last time I used a big syringe(sans needle) to force water and this helped a great deal.
I just went to the vet today to pick heart worm medicine and asked about snake bites. They gave me a print out of the dosage for Benadryl by weight and gave me a prescription for prednisone.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 1:06 pm to Bigsampson
The only use for benadryl is to keep the dog chilled out. It doesn't do anything for the snake bite.
Keep an eye out for pus which would indicate necrosis. I've treated snake bites at home at least a dozen times and haven't lost any pets. I've only had to give antibiotics for necrosis twice.
I had an outdoor cat go into anaphylaxis and saved him with a toddlers eppi pen.
Our outside pets keep the snakes away but they often get bit in the process. My kids have never been bit and I credit the dogs and cats.
Keep an eye out for pus which would indicate necrosis. I've treated snake bites at home at least a dozen times and haven't lost any pets. I've only had to give antibiotics for necrosis twice.
I had an outdoor cat go into anaphylaxis and saved him with a toddlers eppi pen.
Our outside pets keep the snakes away but they often get bit in the process. My kids have never been bit and I credit the dogs and cats.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 1:28 pm to Theduckhunter
quote:Most places in South LA east of the atchafalaya have them.
I’ve thought about that, but we don’t have rattlesnakes.
Orleans and Plaquemines parish have a shitload.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 1:32 pm to choupiquesushi
I never would have guessed that. I haven’t spent much time in snake habitat in either of those parishes though.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 1:57 pm to Theduckhunter
quote:
I never would have guessed that.
SE Louisiana has three different rattlesnakes. Canebreak, eastern diamond back(Florida Parishes) and pygmy. Bayou Sauvage NWR in New Orleans East might have the highest concentration of canebreaks anywhere.
Posted on 6/6/25 at 3:37 pm to Bigsampson
Photos aren’t showing up
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