Snake Bite For Dogs

[gspsonny03]

I just watched a Pheasant hunt that was shot in SD. There was a number of guys and a number of dogs. During this hunt they run across a rattlesnake. Now anyone who has done any type of birdhunting with dogs knows how naturally curious dogs can be with something unknown, such as that rattling sound coming out of the tall grass. Now to the best of my knowledge none of the dogs in the show got bit, but they did do an informational bit on how to take care of your dog if that should happen. One of the hunters happened to be a Vet. The questions were directed to him. He said that the majority of snake bites to dogs are nonlethal. Now people don't mistake what I'm saying here, you still need to get your dog to the vet ASAP. He recommended a tourniquet if on the leg, off and on every 5 minutes plus ICE directly above and on the wound to help slow the venom. Common sense will tell you to quiet your dog and make him slow down to a walk, or if possible pack him back to the vehicle, and to the Vet as quick as possible. A lot of times dogs will take a hit to the face. You all know you can't use a tourniquet here but you can pack the area with ICE, and again to the VET. This is all the more reason to carry a First-aid kit for dogs. If you don't have one you really should think about getting one. I've never had occasion to use mine other than pliers to pull quills out of my dog and sometimes I forget to take it along, but they do come in handy and who knows, sometime you may need something out of it yourself. Anyway if any of you out there happen to know more about treating snakebites than what I listed here, feel free to help the rest of us out.