Pekin bitten by Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) PLEASE HELP!

[subhanalah]

Honestly, you're probably right about it being an almost "dry bite" because I'm pretty sure the snake was just trying to GET AWAY and not kill the duck.

Venom takes a lot of calories and energy to make. They aren't going to waste it 98 something they can't eat.

Unless it was a baby, they go on all cylinders for survival and don't know any better.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Being born and raised in Florida I can remember hearing of dogs being bitten by cotton mouths and living so lets hope this duck can make it through too.

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

Do you have any broad leaf or narrow leaf plantain where you live? You can crush/blend the leaves until the juices are exposed and apply it topically (wrap it lightly?). It's known to draw out venom from bites and stings, and it has been used in folk medicine for snake bites (which I place a lot of belief in even as an RN, because people got bit by snakes a lot in history and this is one of the herbs they've used successfully to draw out the venom as much as possible).

 

[subhanalah]

Do you have any broad leaf or narrow leaf plantain where you live? You can crush/blend the leaves until the juices are exposed and apply it topically (wrap it lightly?). It's known to draw out venom from bites and stings, and it has been used in folk medicine for snake bites (which I place a lot of belief in even as an RN, because people got bit by snakes a lot in history and this is one of the herbs they've used successfully to draw out the venom as much as possible).

wow, those!? I had no idea, that's all over Virginia!

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

I agree about Benadryl. It'll help. His body will use the inflammation response to try and fight the toxins, so I'd only use enough to make sure the swelling doesn't prevent him from breathing. Inflammation could save him, if it isolates the toxins. Good luck. I think if he's made it this far, as long as you help maintain his airway and monitor his swelling I think he's got a decent chance of pulling through.

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

wow, those!? I had no idea, that's all over Virginia!

Yup! They're amazing "weeds". My daughter has hyper-allergic responses to things (we have an epi pen for cashews), and we were out camping and she was bit on the eyelid by a mosquito. Her eye swelled shut and turned black and blue and I'd never used plantain until then. I took some, mashed it up really well and put it on her eye, and the swelling went down to the point where she was able to open her eye within the hour and Benadryl hadn't had any effect on it at all. I've used them on blisters and bites and stings. It's really cool though regarding its use with snake bites.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any update on Lefty?

 

[subhanalah]

Yes, me too.

 

[Amykins]

I hope the lil' guy makes it ;;

 

[amymae1100]

He is doing better! I just gave him the one small dose of Benadryl last night and kept him in the bathroom. This morning he actually quacked at me when I went in to check on him! He still has some swelling under his beak but it has went down a lot. I gave him some electrolytes and took him out to be with the rest of the flock to see if that would help motivate him to eat. As of now he is keeping up with the others pretty good and drinking plenty of water and eating fresh herbs, mealies and sunflower seeds...all his favorite treats I think he is enjoying being spoiled a little too much! And his female friend was ESTATIC to have him back!!! Thank ya'll so very much for the advice! I'm so glad we waited it out cause I thought he was a goner. I agree that he must not have gotten much venom, otherwise I don't think he would have made it.