re: UPDATE Quick Snake ID...bc outdoor board is dead right now

Man it's really hard to tell since Cotton Mouths and DB Water Snakes look so similar. But I'd say 60/40 Cotton Mouth vs DBWS.

Nvm

I left him at the Animal hospital last for observation and so they could run an IV. They shot him up with steroids, antibiotics, pain killers and antihistamine. Picked him up this morning, foot and leg still swollen, and brought him straight to our regular vet. They are keeping him there today and plan on releasing him tomorrow morning with a chewable antibiotic. Our vet told me this morning that she was 90% sure he was in the clear, and is more concerned with an infection at the bite site than she is the effects of the venom.

I have to say, I was a little annoyed with the vet last night at the hospital. At first he gave me a whole list of stuff that we needed to do, without even explaining what any of it really was. I asked him what my other options were and he told me that my only "option" was that we could opt for or against the antivenom. Everything else was non-negotiable. He was very rude and acted like I was a terrible person for wanting to know if there was a way we could help my dog for less than $1500. Anyway, the vet tech ended up helping me figure out a plan that ended up costing $400. That included the overnight stay, drugs, and fluid. Basically he was wanting me to do about $300 worth of blood panels and coagulation test. My vet this morning said I did the right thing...

Thanks for all your help, I really do appreciate it.

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I have to say, I was a little annoyed with the vet last night at the hospital. At first he gave me a whole list of stuff that we needed to do, without even explaining what any of it really was. I asked him what my other options were and he told me that my only "option" was that we could opt for or against the antivenom. Everything else was non-negotiable. He was very rude and acted like I was a terrible person for wanting to know if there was a way we could help my dog for less than $1500.

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Those emergency Animal hospitals are the worst. They play on your emotions and get you to spend money on treatments that aren't necessary. Been there done that. When we were in a similar situation we found out later there were other much less and expensive and more effective options available.

Glad your dog is doing ok

Looks a lot like a cottonmouth. I need to see pics of it's belly since the head is all f'd up

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The last couple of bites hardly even made him swell anymore

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I guess after surviving 2-3 bites the dog built up a pretty good immunity.

I'm glad your dog is doing ok. May wanna seek out another ER hospital for future emergencies if this one made you feel like that.

My vet this morning pretty much said that we did exactly what she would've recommended. Obviously I don't expect every doctor to give the same care plan, but it just felt like this guy was trying to get me to just hand over the credit card, no questions asked. Like when you said it was silly to just have one treatment option, that's how he was approaching it. I actually didn't even get to see him again after he stormed out if the room...the vet tech had to keep running back and forth between the two of us. Maybe he was busy, probably was. Like I said, I'm just happy that my dog is doing ok and that I feel like I didn't get hosed in the process.