Learned something about snakebite

[COL Jagdog]

I learned a couple of interesting things about snakebite yesterday -- was out at the farm (Lacassine area, about 18 miles east of Lake Charles, just north of a major wildlife reserve) -- finished cutting grass and was walking by our pond
with one of our English Setters, Dram -- we have had a lot of rain this spring, so the ditches, ponds, marshes, etc are full as well as the crawfish ponds (flooded rice fields in the area), so lots of snakes around .Usually the only place I encounter water moccasins is in the marsh and I have had to kill a few over the years, including a 5-footer that was in the yard of our duck camp. I can usually smell them if they are over a few feet long (I know that sounds strange, but they have a dank and disagreeable odor that you can smell if close to one) -- I apparently walked right by the moccasin (in some high grass by the pond edge and it struck Dram near the shoulder who yelped. Ran to the barn, put Dram in his crate in the truck, got a heavy duty rake, and was able to find the snake and kill it -- positive ID as moccasin. Rushed to vet -- shave area at bite site -- no swelling, or any other sequelae after several hours (usually there is rapid swelling as the venom is primarily hemotoxic/mucotoxic) -- Found out that snakebites do not always produce envenomation and with water moccasins only about 50% of bites result in envenomation -- (apparently defensive strikes) -- also found out that anitvenin supplies are low and very very expensive -- antivenin serum treatment may run into many thousands of dollars. Thought came to mind that if you spend a lot of time outdoors (as I do), check around and find out what medical facilities in your area keep antivenin in stock -- it may come in handy to know that in advance one day. Dram is fine and I am very relieved.
A doctor friend I talked to yesterday told me that the snake must have known that I was a lawyer and did not bite me as a professonal courtesy -- about the only humor in what was
an eventful and worried afternoon.

 

[COL Jagdog]

Professional, not professonal, sorry.

 

[longhair]

I had a friend bitten by a copperhead last fall. The cost of anti-venom was approximately $18,000. Another guy in a nearby city got bitten by one and his hospital cost was $80,000.

 

[COL Jagdog]

That is in line with what I was told yesterday -- antivenin would run about $20,000 and that hospital stays for 2-3 days of serum antivenin treatment runs $50,000 plus. Never dreamed that snakebite treatment was that high.

 

[gunzo]

A rancher friend of mine out west got gitten by a small Prairie Rattler a couple years back. His anti venom bill was $20,500. Makes me want trade my shake proof gaiters for a snake proof full body suit. I could probably make a career out of shootin prarie dogs if it wasn't for the dang rattlers.

 

[semperfi71]

Good information here. I knew a man years ago in Texas who claimed he could smell rattlesnakes. His workmates "pooh-poohed" him until he smelled and found them several times over to prove it.

 

[mjr]

George Leonard Herter, the eccentric founder of Heter's, Inc. of Waseca, Minn., claimed in his Professional Guide's Manual
that cottonmouths "have a smell just exactly like fresh cut watermelon."

Of course, Mr. Herter was a man who knew all the answers, and if he didn't he'd make one up.

 

[brucev]

A friend of one of my church members was stuck in the foot by a not large diamond back rattle snake. The anti-venom ran $22,000 plus the other cost of treatment. The lady said if she'd have known what it was going to ultimately cost, she'd have just taken her hoe and chopped off that toe after killing the snake!

 

[Marshwheeling]

"What did the Doc say?"

"He says you're gonna die."

 

[Kelly Green]

Back in the late 40's when my grandmother was bitten by a copperhead my granddad treated the bite with turpentine, tobacco leaves and cocklebur root. We wern't the 'Beverly Hillbillies', but close. Doctors and medical services weren't as accessible to us out in the country as they are today and many folks resorted to home remedies. I remember her being very sick but she recovered. I wouldn't recommend doing that today.

 

[Rule3]

If you are ever bitten by anything poisonous you want this Dr.

Emergency Medicine Residency Program - Dr. Bush of Venom ER - LLUMC emergency medicine

 

[mjr]

I recall my father--who was born in eastern Missouri in 1914--saying that the old timers if bitten by a copperhead would usually get very drunk and stay that way in bed for up to a week. Dad didn't have any info about survival rates, though.

 

[diamonback68]

Last year my Lab Sophie stepped on a pygmy rattler, they grow about 12" to 15" around here, started swelling and took her to Vets. Not enough venom to do major damage, so Vet gave her an antibiotic shot. Had a little tissue rotting and damage, but after about a week or so, it clear up with no after affects.

 

[A10]

All this makes me very happy to live in Western Washington.....

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

When I was a kid growing up in Collin County,TX we lived on my grandfather's homestead, located on the upper drainage basin for Whiterock Creek. By the time I was in 2nd grade I had developed a fascination with snakes and knew every kind of snake I was likely to encounter in N TX. One interesting fact I learned was that most water snakes, including the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin, have a scent gland near the anal opening. One of their big defense mechanisms is to release a very thick and nasty smelling secretion that, once encountered, is not likely to be forgotten. I could always tell when I was in too close of proximity to one of those bad boys. The smell gave their presence away and I was quick to vacate the premises. Water snakes in TX that resemble Mocs include the Diamondback Water Snake and the Common Water Snake... short stubby bodies, nasty tempers and the aforementioned musk glands. Another tell tale sign of the pit vipers, the mocs, rattlers and copperheads, is that their eyes have pupils like a cat... if ya get that close to 'em!

Hog, the hamateur herpetologist!

 

[681ismyfavorite]

its called a dry bite. venomous snakes prefer to use their venom for hunting or when they really feel threatened.

a dry bite is a warning, with the real thing should that warning not be heeded.

 

[Pete99004]

Happy outcome - good to hear your Dram is OK. Sounds like the farm can be a hazard area when there is high water. I hate snakes so I wouldn't do well in that area at all.

Take special care down there!!


Pete

 

[Trooperdan]

I've always described mocassins as smelling like cucumbers. Last summer, my 12 pound mutt, mostly chichuhua, dachshund and some terrier got struck right in the abdomin, just in front of the hip.
We rushed the mutt to the local emergency vet and they told us to run like hell for the NC vet school in Raleigh.
Four days in intensive care, $6,000 later, he survived. The docs were even surprised and wrote it up for some vet journal. The little guy has personality plus and he was worth it!
The snake wasn't seen but we have copperheads, rattlesnakes and moccassins right here on the property. We live by a swamp.

 

[Onomea]

Glad to hear Dram is okay, COL.

I am astonished at how much it costs to treat a snake bite. And I am wondering why it is $6K for a dog and somewhere between $20K and $80K for a person...

And I am also wondering if the people who were bit were covered by insurance... Man, that would be true bite in the rear to be minding your own business, taking a walk, and wham! $80K dent in the bank account...

(And I was reminded of that joke -- "He says you're gonna die!" -- too, Marsh!)

 

[m1gunner]

Glad to hear Dram is okay, COL.

I am astonished at how much it costs to treat a snake bite. And I am wondering why it is $6K for a dog and somewhere between $20K and $80K for a person...

And I am also wondering if the people who were bit were covered by insurance... Man, that would be true bite in the rear to be minding your own business, taking a walk, and wham! $80K dent in the bank account...

(And I was reminded of that joke -- "He says you're gonna die!" -- too, Marsh!)

Vets charge reasonable fees for their services, MDs charge like they are some kind of God. Have had work done to a horse for $100 that would have been $75,000 to $100,000 if it had been done to me.