diverrick
Sr. Member
- Jan 18, 2011
- 276
- 287
- Detector(s) used
- Whites MXT, Minelab Eureka gold
- Primary Interest:
- Other
Tis the season for rattlers to be out, and every year dogs get bitten. I just saw today that a fellow propsector had his dog die from a snake bite. I am truly sorry for his loss. Having been there done that before with one of my beloved dogs, I can speak from experience. The only true way to help the pet is to get them to the emergency vet ASAP, where they can administer the antivenon, and antibiotics to halt infections. Yes, it is going to be really expensive, but I believe my dogs are just as important as kids. I am adding this next paragraph for more detail.
Fact: There is absolutely no scientifically sound evidence that electric shock or the use of any stun gun on a snakebite, either in man or animal, is effective in preventing the effects of venomous snakebite. In victims with serious snakebite who used the device they still had symptoms of snakebite and required standardized medical treatment including antivenom. They may have had some relief from pain and swelling as a result of the shock but that is all.
There is also a vaccine your local vet can give your dogs, that makes the snake bite far less of an injury. But you must get the dogs vaccinated ahead of time. IIRC, it is a series of shots to start with, then a booster once a year afterwards. The shots cost a little up front, but it pays off when the dog gets bitten, you don't have to pay for all the emergency room stuff. They treat it like an infection rather than a poisoning. I personally will not take my dog with me when out prospecting for this reason alone. But they can also be bitten at home too. So please get your dog the shots and pray they never have to experience what my poor old dog did. BTW, mine made it through, I was out a lot of money, he had a big scar on his leg for the rest of his life. Good news he never messed with a snake again! Guess he learned.
Fact: There is absolutely no scientifically sound evidence that electric shock or the use of any stun gun on a snakebite, either in man or animal, is effective in preventing the effects of venomous snakebite. In victims with serious snakebite who used the device they still had symptoms of snakebite and required standardized medical treatment including antivenom. They may have had some relief from pain and swelling as a result of the shock but that is all.
There is also a vaccine your local vet can give your dogs, that makes the snake bite far less of an injury. But you must get the dogs vaccinated ahead of time. IIRC, it is a series of shots to start with, then a booster once a year afterwards. The shots cost a little up front, but it pays off when the dog gets bitten, you don't have to pay for all the emergency room stuff. They treat it like an infection rather than a poisoning. I personally will not take my dog with me when out prospecting for this reason alone. But they can also be bitten at home too. So please get your dog the shots and pray they never have to experience what my poor old dog did. BTW, mine made it through, I was out a lot of money, he had a big scar on his leg for the rest of his life. Good news he never messed with a snake again! Guess he learned.
