snake bit dogs survival rate

[Travissalinas]

Jack Russell Terrier Dice was at my parents house in San Marcos and was bitten by a rattle snake in the face. The parents freaked and took him to the vet, the vet reported that he was blind. My guess would be due to the swelling of his head. the rattle snake antivenom was around $1500, so the parents did the smart thing and said no thanks. then the vet convinced them to put Dice down so he wouldn't suffer.

there lies the problem, i've heard of lots of dogs that were bitten in the face, had a miserable 3 days of grotesquely swollen faces, and then recovered with little or no effect. if the dog is bitten in the body, then the chances are pretty slim for a recovery.

the emergency vet clinic then charges several hundred bucks to put Dice down. unfortunately i wasn't involved, but my thoughts are that Dice might have been miserable for a few days, bet I would at least given him a chance at survival.

i'd be interested to see if anyone else has thoughts on face versus body rattlesnake bites on dogs...

[Texas Tracker]

If it were a bigger dog he might make it but being a small Russel I don't thing he would have made it. I am sure it was a hard thing for you mom and dad to put him down. Sorry to hear that prayers sent.

[str8shooter]

I have a Beagle that is about the size of a JRT. He's been bitten five or six times just that I know of. The first one was bad. On the snout. Nose swelled to the size of a large grapefruit. Vet said ice, benadryl and rest. She also said dogs rarely die from snake bites, even small ones like our beagle, and they build up an immunity after the first bite. She's a country vet, but I'm guessing she knew what she was talking about. Three days later he's out hunting snakes again. Second time swelled to the size of a baseball and he was down for two days. Third time his snout swelled to a little smaller than a golf ball and he was just down for the rest of the afternoon. Rusty is now 15 and he is deaf and blind, but still gets around. Best snake killing dog I ever had.

Prayers up for you and your parents, but I think the vet made a hasty decision.

[Hawkins]

My wifes parents little boston terrier cross has been bit numerous times by rattlesnakes and is still alive. I would let a dog pull through it, just take his collar off so it don't choke them from swelling. Give them benedryl and Dexamethasone. They also have a rattlesnake vaccine for less than 30 bucks a dog.

[yanta61]

I agree the dog probably would have made it and it was stupid for the vet to recomend putting him down.

[Billy Shipp]

I had a Blue Heeler pup bitten by a rattler on the side of his face. His whole face was so swollen it looked like his eyes were 2 inches deeper than normal. Took him to a Vet who gave him meds for comfort and said to just keep an eye on him. The pup spent most of a week lying in a bath tub because he had a fever and the tub was the coolest place he could find. The pup looked like a deformed monster with all the swelling. A week later the place he was bitten busted open and it was the nastiest, stinkingest stuff you ever saw or smelled. It was a hole big enough to put a tennis ball in. After it busted open, he started feeling better and healing. 30 days later you couldn't even find the place he was bitten. That particular Vet convinced me to not put the dog down thinking he would be ok. He lived to be a good friend for many more years.
It's your call. I think I'd have the Vet give him something for pain and take my chances. They can and do survive snake bites.

[El Viejo]

Dogs tend to get bit in the face. Cats tend to get bit on the paw. It's because of the way they "attack" a rattlesnake. The recovery rate for dogs is amazing. Vets may give antibiotics, possibly steroids. There isn't much else they do. Antivenom is very expensive and generally not needed. My son's viszla got tagged in the face a couple years ago. He swole up like a grapefruit, but is as wild and crazy now as he ever was. Now my son has his own little side business where he trains dogs to avoid rattlesnakes (when he can come across a snake to use).

[Zeeter]

My dogs have been bitten by rattlesnakes and copperheads and all have pulled through.... sorry for the loss man the vet should have at least given the dog a chance in my opinion.

[Draco]

I think the vet was wrong but I wasn't there.

You should hear some of the vet/horse stories and money. Some vets just care about the money and not the animals. Remember, the guy that graduated lowest in the class is still called a vet.

[Hills of Texas]

My coon hounds get bit sometimes. They swell up pretty good but have not lost one yet.

[30-30]

It won't do any good to ponder the what-ifs at this point. Remember the good times, and know that he was saved from a few days of misery. The vet has seen many many more snake bites than any of us and I'm sure they made the call that they thought was best. As did your parents. I'm sorry for your loss.

[Texastaxi]

Luckily, my regular vet AND my emergency vet are one in the same and KNOW what they're doing (hi Mike )!

Years ago, we sold a maltese puppy to one of my wife's friends. It liked to follow her kid everywhere. One day the pup slipped out of the yard, behind the kid and ran out into the street at the wrong time. It's back was broken when the car hit it. They took it to the vet and the vet suggested putting it down, so they did.

We find out about it a few weeks later.

The dog still had feeling in her tail and back legs, so there's a chance it would have made it and even been able to walk when the break healed. It sucks that they put the dog down for no reason.

I've never dealt with a snake bite first hand, but from everything I've read, I think the dog would have made it. I'm sorry that you lost a good dog due to an incompetent vet.

[Travissalinas]

thanks for all the responses. i have a strong suspicion that the emergency vet was looking for any way to make some cash. pretty sad. for those who are interested, it is the Emergency Vet Clinic in New Braunfels.

[Tex21]

A lady that I work with had a dog get bit by a timber rattler in the face and I believe the VET told them to give it nyquil or something of the sort but Ill confirm that later when she gets back from lunch! They said the next morngin the dog was up and walking around so it must work!

[mTn hunting]

My 11 month oils lab was bit in the back leg!
After three days of not drinking anything, would cry and cry if he moved and wouldent even open his eyes on the third day! I put him down!