Late Friday night I took my 70 lb. hound mix, Tiger, out for his evening ritual in our large fenced in backyard. He wandered off into a large grove of anise trees as usual.
Next thing I know he is running madly across the yard screaming and pawing at his face. I finally got him inside, but he fought every time I tried to examine the right side of his face, which was swelling rapidly. He was also showing signs of breathing difficulty, wheezing and rasping rapidly.
The nearest vet emergency clinic is 40 miles away or so, and Friday night traffic makes it a good 90 minute drive, so that wasn't really an option. I got DH out of bed, with that "NOW, DEAR" voice
and we tried to check his face, but he struggled madly. DH managed to get a generic Benadryl pill into him while I held him down.
We knew the options were bee/wasp sting or snakebite. I wiped Tiger's face with a paper towel and no blood showed up, so we assumed bee or wasp sting. He was having a lot of trouble breathing, so I spent the night with him in the "doggie den", which is the pantry off the kitchen. He made it through the night in better shape than I did. (Fifty three year old women should not be sleeping on floors.)
Saturday morning, his face was very swollen and he had a large fluid filled pouch under his neck. He was very unhappy, but managed to eat some peanut butter with another antihistamine pill inside. I continued the pills every 4 hours, even all night.
Late Saturday night he slept on the couch, and since he was so cute with an ear shading his eye, I took a pic.
Uploaded the pic this morning, and discovered 2 BITE MARKS! Right next to his nose! Yikes!
A week or so ago, someone on BYC said something about giving Benadryl after a snakebite- I don't remember who you are but THANK YOU!
The swelling/edema is much reduced today, and he's eating.
Hope this can help someone else. Best guess is a 2 foot rattlesnake, since we have had one in the fenced area before.
Next thing I know he is running madly across the yard screaming and pawing at his face. I finally got him inside, but he fought every time I tried to examine the right side of his face, which was swelling rapidly. He was also showing signs of breathing difficulty, wheezing and rasping rapidly.
The nearest vet emergency clinic is 40 miles away or so, and Friday night traffic makes it a good 90 minute drive, so that wasn't really an option. I got DH out of bed, with that "NOW, DEAR" voice
We knew the options were bee/wasp sting or snakebite. I wiped Tiger's face with a paper towel and no blood showed up, so we assumed bee or wasp sting. He was having a lot of trouble breathing, so I spent the night with him in the "doggie den", which is the pantry off the kitchen. He made it through the night in better shape than I did. (Fifty three year old women should not be sleeping on floors.)
Saturday morning, his face was very swollen and he had a large fluid filled pouch under his neck. He was very unhappy, but managed to eat some peanut butter with another antihistamine pill inside. I continued the pills every 4 hours, even all night.
Uploaded the pic this morning, and discovered 2 BITE MARKS! Right next to his nose! Yikes!
A week or so ago, someone on BYC said something about giving Benadryl after a snakebite- I don't remember who you are but THANK YOU!
The swelling/edema is much reduced today, and he's eating.
Hope this can help someone else. Best guess is a 2 foot rattlesnake, since we have had one in the fenced area before.
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