re:Snake Bite

["marilyn wiese" <marilynwiese@att.net>]

> I've only had to deal with one snake bite on a horse's leg over the years
(have dealt with far more dogs that get bitten, and a few horses who have
been bitten in the nose), and after the initial swelling went down, that one
healed uneventfully.  But we also had her on fairly high levels of
broad-spectrum antibiotics, as well as soaking and cleaning the site of the
bite.
> Heidi

I came home one day, over 2 1/2 years ago to find that my horse Scout had
been bitten right smack dab on his muzzle, by a rattlesnake....his head was
swollen so much that he resembled a hippo and the swelling was going down
into his neck and chest and past his ears....the two fang marks were big and
bloody and gunk seemed to be coming from the pores of Scout's face and nose.

The vet thinks I found him about 30-45 minutes after he was bitten.....altho
his nasal passages had swollen up so much that he ALMOST couldn't
breathe....he was at least still able to breath well enough for me to lead
him to the trailer.....my husband called the vet and the vet was waiting for
us with several IV fluids....I know they contained antibiotics and steroids
and not sure what else.

Scout was on IVs for 48 hours.....he was given penicillin shots twice a day
for 10 days....either the vet or I cleaned his face and cleaned out his nose
and mouth very well and applied medications to the area twice a day......he
was kept in a very clean stall during the first 10 days.....all of this was
to prevent the likelihood of a bad infection.

Scout was very lucky and aside from a muzzle that tilts to the left when you
are facing him, he does not seem to have any residual effects from is
bite....I had read up on what type of recovery I could expect and the
picture was not pretty......lots of rotting of skin, bone and flesh can
occur with some snakebites.  So I would try to make sure the horse is given
the proper antibiotics for the bite and I would keep an eye on the area for
many months to come.....in case there is an infection or signs of gangrene.

mar, khal, and scout in san angelo, tx