How To Treat Your Dogs Snake Bite
By: Backwoods McKinsey

McKinsey lives in Florida, where there are many poisonous snakes
but the biggest threat being the water moccasin.

EDITORS NOTE:  There is a foot infection that is fairly common in
dogs that may also closely resemble a snake bite, so if this advice
doesn't work for you, then it may be another problem.

    I know this article is a little strange to be found within a magazine that deals primarily with Internet related topics, but this information could save your dogs life. I have personally treated two different snake bites.

Disclaimer
First off neither I nor anyone here is a veterinarian or has any formal training in
this field. This information is for those who are in remote areas who cannot
get to an animal hospital or cannot afford to or for what ever reason can't get to
the animal hospital. I will not be responsible if you use this information and suffer 
any damages. In no way should this information be used for a human snake 
bite treatment.

This information may be worthless for encounters with coral snakes or any other
snake which contains a neurotoxin. If your dog has been bitten by a Pygmy rattler
then chances are if you follow these directions then your dog should be just fine.
(Unless your dog is small - under 12 pounds.)


Myths and Folk Lore
Forget any fairy tales you may have heard about snake bites, for they are all
hogwash.

Never:
X  Try to lacerate the bite
X  Try to suck out/remove the poison
X  Tourniquet the bite
X  Use any sort of electric shock
X  Wrap tobacco or any other leaf on the bite
X  Wrap chicken or any other meat on the bite
X  Bites from poisonous snakes are always fatal. 

Snake Bite Facts
Only 25% of snake bites actually inject venom on the first strike.
Out of the remaining percentage only 15-20% of the venom is actually injected.
Out of the 15,000 bites annually that occur only 3% are actually fatal.
When treated with antibiotics only 1% of cases are fatal.
Snake bites are painful, and you should try and keep your pet calm.
There are 2500 types of snakes with only 200 of which are poisonous.

The severity of the bite depends on many factors:
How agitated the snake was, climate/weather, temperature, age and size of the snake,
weight of the snake, whether of not the snake was in defensive posture, the
venom capacity of the snake and of course the type of snake.

Antidote
Anti-venoms are not widely used, for one reason they only have a 18 month shelf life,
also humans are first priority on the list, so obtaining it may be difficult. It is also 
expensive for he hospital to stock.  The anti-venom costs around $100 a vial and
a typical dosage for a dog is two vials. Additionally there is a 10% chance that
your pet could have an allergic reaction to the anti-venom which could be fatal.

What To Do
DO NOT give your dog ANY pain killers, do *not* apply any benzocaine, lanacaine,
hydrocortisone, steroid creams or anything else that might interfere with the proper treatment.
Always tell the veterinarian what you have done to the dog exactly as not to overdose your dog!
1. If possible identify the bite, if it appears triangular then it is likely poisonous;
however since you are not likely a herpetologist then assume that it is poisonous.
Try and keep the animal still and the bite below the heart.

NOTE: Because of the unique agents in the snakes venom, ice packs will keep the animals
natural mechanisms from working as well. So DO NOT use them.

2. Check your dogs breathing and check for signs of shock. Some snakes/venoms
cause severe shock and can quickly spread and become fatal. If your dog has quit
breathing, use assisted breathing techniques (CPR minus the hear massage.)

3.  If the bite wound is dirty from mud or dirt, wash with soap and water.
Apply a compression bandage DO NOT cut off the circulation to the bite.
It should be just tight enough to slow/stop the spreading of the venom.
If no bandages are available forge a makeshift one out of a long strip of cloth.
Keep the animal from walking around or getting too upset.

NOTE: If you live in an area with scorpions and believe it not to be a snake bite,
but rather a sting- follow step four ONLY.

4.  Obtain some benadryl, and YES you can use the generic found at most super market 
chains.  If your dog is a small dog only use 10mg if your dog is larger use 25mg.
If the medicine doesn't include Diphenhydramine then it isn't as good as benadryl!
This will sedate your dog and they will likely want to sleep, which after you
follow all steps is perfectly fine, just make sure they don't stop breathing.

NOTE: If you have identified the snake to be non-poisonous, make sure you get
your dog inoculated against tetanus.

5. Administer an antibiotic, this part is particularly risky as far as dosage is concerned,
you can give them Penicillin or Amoxicillin. This is extremely important as swelling will
NOT reduce without an antibiotic. That is all the steps you can really take.

In Conclusion
From here out it is a waiting game, the first eight hours being the most critical.
Remember to stay calm yourself, as if you can make it to the animal hospital
you should not endanger yourself, your sick passenger and other drivers on
the road. Remember most police won't consider your sick animal a necessary
emergency to do 100MPH.

It's been my experience that it runs around $118 for a vet bill, to treat a snake bite
and $300-400 for treatment with an anti-venom. But if you love your pet this will
be a bargain to keep them around.

Please feel free to cut and paste this article, email it to your friends, post it to
the newsgroups and print it out and stick in your glove compartment.
This could save your pets life or someone else's. Don't go on a camping
trip without this article.