Venomous Snake: Friend and Foe

[McChooky]

Lucy the German Pointer has been bitten at least twice by Copperheads, yet she goes after them in a different manner than used for the non-venomous species. I'm pretty sure the mother English Shepherd named Honey has been bitten at least once. She shows no interest in Copperheads but goes after nonvenomous snakes with gusto. We shall see how Pup Pup responds to next encounter. I do not think Pup Pup got a full dose from the bit this time, although she did back off from the conflict. With Lucy, even when bitten, I have to pull her off or she will kill the snake. I think Lucy is half-opossum and bone headed to the core.

One of mine got an infection of the lymph glands after getting bit by a snake in the throat.

 

[centrarchid]

One of mine got an infection of the lymph glands after getting bit by a snake in the throat.

I'll keep my eye out for that complication.

 

[centrarchid]

Second dog bitten. This one in rear leg. We are getting into more copperheads than usual. Not all contacts leading to bites. I think recent dozer work new fencing messed up their den.

 

[centrarchid]

Cost getting second bitten dog "Peanut" back on track is close to $500. Dogs are finding copperheads in strange location like under boards near garden and even under the dog kennel. I don't think there is typically that many snakes here during summer. I think we did have a den or two that hosted them every winter that somehow is not available to snakes coming "home" to hibernate.

 

[Ozarkoak]

All copperheads on my land get the shotgun. Their impact on rodent population is close to zero, and the risk of injury to humans and animals is very high. You may not die but could suffer months of debilitating injuries and massive hospital bills. All rat snakes and king snakes are welcome though. Rodents are the main driver of snakes. All of our feed is stored in sealed containers, our coops and nesting houses have no floors and our feeders are covered range style feeders kept in the open. Of course we have rodents but we attempt to not feed them and house them comfortably.

 

[centrarchid]

Ouch!

 

[Folly's place]

x2! It will heal fine, in time. Lotsa time... And more vet visits.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

Peanut kept getting out of her cone of shame even when anchored to a horness. She then repeatedly removed the bandages. My son recalled vet suggesting putting a sock over it. We did and problem solved. I now have a matching sock problem.

 

[Folly's place]

Bitter apple spray on the sock also?

 

[Sussex19]

Why do animals always go after snakes?
I sure hope Peanut feels better soon. Here, if one of our dogs gets bit, the most likely outcome is death, as ones only got about half an hour to get them to a vet, and the nearest vet is just over that distance away.
I lost one of my horses last summer.