Posted By: Sweese
Cassie struck by a water moccasin - 06/06/16 03:58 AM
Some of you may have heard that Cassie was bit by a snake Friday. I thought I would fill the others in and encourage snake avoidance training and vaccinations.
Late Friday, I was introducing a puppy to the water. Cassie was along to help. Everything went great until we left. I was heading back to the truck carrying the puppy, and Cassie was behind me carrying a dokken when she was hit. We were walking through shallow water new from the recent rains. I did not see a snake but Cassie was in severe pain, would not walk on her left leg. I also noticed a small amount of blood.
Fifteen minutes later after I cleaned the wound, I noticed it turning black and immediately rushed her to my vet in Lewisville. We got her some pain meds but they had no anti venom. Fortunately, they knew where to send me. I then moved Cassie down the road to DFW North Emergency Clinic in Flower Mound. This is a very well equipped clinic, that has anti venom and lots of snake bite experience. Within 1.5 hours of the bite, we had her on anti venom.
Though I did not see the snake, the vet saw the severity of the necrosis and said water moccasin. This is a very dangerous snake. It is capable of killing its victims, including humans.
What is necrosis? It is the death of most or all of the cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury, or failure of the blood supply. Cassie was losing flesh from this bite and it was ugly.
Due to lots of prayer and the staff at DFW North, Cassie was stable and her blood test results good 20 hours later. She is now at home recovering and I am managing the wound. Her leg is still very swollen but not getting worse. She is probably putting about 80% on the foot right now, so we have a way to go.
Though Cassie stepped on this snake, possibly aggravated by me passing it first, I still plan on snake avoidance training if possible this summer. I had already planned on the vaccine prior to this incident but was thinking July/August before the dove opener.
None of you want to have your dog go through what Cassie went through this weekend. It is also very expensive. Talk to your vet about the vaccine, know who has anti-venom in case of a bite, do the snake avoidance training, and be careful out there.
Late Friday, I was introducing a puppy to the water. Cassie was along to help. Everything went great until we left. I was heading back to the truck carrying the puppy, and Cassie was behind me carrying a dokken when she was hit. We were walking through shallow water new from the recent rains. I did not see a snake but Cassie was in severe pain, would not walk on her left leg. I also noticed a small amount of blood.
Fifteen minutes later after I cleaned the wound, I noticed it turning black and immediately rushed her to my vet in Lewisville. We got her some pain meds but they had no anti venom. Fortunately, they knew where to send me. I then moved Cassie down the road to DFW North Emergency Clinic in Flower Mound. This is a very well equipped clinic, that has anti venom and lots of snake bite experience. Within 1.5 hours of the bite, we had her on anti venom.
Though I did not see the snake, the vet saw the severity of the necrosis and said water moccasin. This is a very dangerous snake. It is capable of killing its victims, including humans.
What is necrosis? It is the death of most or all of the cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury, or failure of the blood supply. Cassie was losing flesh from this bite and it was ugly.
Due to lots of prayer and the staff at DFW North, Cassie was stable and her blood test results good 20 hours later. She is now at home recovering and I am managing the wound. Her leg is still very swollen but not getting worse. She is probably putting about 80% on the foot right now, so we have a way to go.
Though Cassie stepped on this snake, possibly aggravated by me passing it first, I still plan on snake avoidance training if possible this summer. I had already planned on the vaccine prior to this incident but was thinking July/August before the dove opener.
None of you want to have your dog go through what Cassie went through this weekend. It is also very expensive. Talk to your vet about the vaccine, know who has anti-venom in case of a bite, do the snake avoidance training, and be careful out there.