Our seven year old Labradoodle Rusty took a dry strike (fortunately) from a copperhead on the golf course behind our home Saturday. No venom was injected but the bacterial infection started. Two different vet supplied antibiotics, a 3X/day rinse solution and 4X/day spray-on antibiotics and he'll be back to fetching bumpers in a week. Careful out there fellas, the snakes are back out with all the rain and warm weather.

Yep saw one yesterday, well my six yr old son did while fishing. Had the dog w us to let fetch her duck dummy, after that, not so much.

Never seen a copperhead afield, hope I never do. Glad Rusty is ok.

Poor Rusty! Glad he is OK.

Guy ... that's testament to how unbelievably well they can camo themselves. I've spotted a couple climbing up the trunk of an Oak tree at our old place in Ivanhoe. Had they not been moving I would never have seen them.

Yep pretty much the only time I see them is when they are crossing a black top road.

Have had several dogs bitten by copperheads some several times each [slow learners]. Gave them Benadryl and a Tylenol, half of each and rest in about 4-6 hrs. They were back to normal the next day. Vet here said that he doesn't consider a copperhead a lethal snake to dogs, never had one die from one.

They can die from Copperheads and water mocs. They can get sever infections in the bite area as well. Cappy has the right program with medicating the infection immediately. Infections are way easier to fight on the front end rather than waiting.

Have never seen a Copperhead here but there are lots of Rattlers. Both my Labs have been vaccinated for Rattlers and the youngest will be going for Snake training in August.

Copperheads, like Cottonmouths and Rattlers, are pit vipers. Their venom can cause necrosis (blackening and deteriorating)of the affected tissue. The prognosis in a dog with a pit viper bite is generally good with prompt treatment. Copperheads are the least toxic and generally require time for skin wound healing but are not fatal.

Even though a venomous pit viper snake may have bitten your dog, not all bites contain venom. In fact, less than half of all snakebites result in signs associated with envenomation. Rusty was just plain lucky this time.

Glad he's ok.....

One week after being struck. On two different oral antibiotics 1X/day and 2 antibiotic liquid flushes 4X/day. Slowly but surely improving.

If I get bit by a copperhead, PLEASE don't give me Benadryl and Tylenol !!!!


Lots of love will help too Cappy

that's what most Dr's do

Never had a vet tell me to give a dog Tylenol.

It sure doesn't seem like Rusty would be 7.
Seems like just a couple of years ago he was a pup.

NEVER but NEVER give a dog Tylenol! Any form of Tylenol can lead to liver failure, kidney damage, and compromise a dog's oxygen respiration rate, according to Jennifer Coates, DVM for PetMD.

Rusty is 7-1/2 and still acts like a pup in many ways. Of the nine dogs I've owned in my lifetime, he is by far the best dispositioned companion buddy I've ever had.

good news he is improving + 1 on the Tylenol, I have heard vets recommend hydrogen peroxide, its a no no, it retards the healing process, iodine soap is the best.

My best friends DD died last year to a strike, that hit her in the inside of the mouth.

Never say never.

Ten days after the strike, antibiotic meds and diligent 4X/day application of topicals made a big difference. You'll be back fetching bumpers in a day or two, Rusty.