How to identify snake bite in a dog?

[bijoux1]

I am curious to hear if anyone knows what a snake bite in a dog would look like. I have had quite a scare today, and we are just leaving the vet...But, I'm still just not 100% certain this isn't a bite.

My dogs are NEVER outside unattended. For that matter, they are with me all day long and especially for the last 3-4 days, they have not been unattended at all while inside or outside... I have been home sick, and we all have been right here together.

After I took them outside to use the bathroom in my fenced yard...with me standing right there with them, ...well a little while later one of them started throwing up pretty violently ..I might add. Immediately, I couldn't figure out what was causing it because I know for a fact that he has had absolutely nothing out of the norm!! Well, I was washing his face off, and I felt something under his chin...really at his neck. When I looked it was a small spot bleeding ... I know he didn't fall or do anything to hurt himself because they literally haven't been without me at all the past few days.

It was a fresh wound and small,but I couldn't see 2 spots that would indicate a fang... and it isn't a deep deep cut. But with the fact he was vomiting profusely...we had been outside an hour earlier, and that there have been snakes around here over the past few weeks, I immediately worried it might be a snake bite.

The vet that was there didn't think it was because there weren't two puncture wounds, and it wasn't swollen. He theorized that my dog had scraped it against something and that the vomiting was a coincidence. He prescribed antibiotics.

Does there always have to be two puncture wounds and or swelling? I'm sure I'm over reacting, but I'm just still a little worried bc I really can't imagine how he else he possibly cut open his neck like this?

[TxVicki]

I don't have an answer for you. But I pray your baby will feel better soon. I know that had to be very scary.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Was there swelling in the area? I think there usually is after a snake bite?

[bamawife]

I have a large lab mix that was bit by a snake about 7-8 years ago. It swelled immediately.

[bijoux1]

Thank you very much!! It actually has scared me a good bit! He is sitting here in my lap, and he definitely doesn't feel good. Don't get me wrong, if this is just a scrape, I will HAPPILY take that!! It's just that this same dog is extremely curious, and I have seen a few snakes in my back yard over the past few weeks...which is one of many reasons they NEVER go outside alone.

A few weeks ago I looked over to him three feet from me and bending down to examine what was a HUGE snake! I said leave it, and miraculously he did. Thankfully he wasn't bitten, and I now look first before they go in the yard. I didn't see a snake today, but the man that mows my yard hurt his shoulder last week so the grass is taller than normal. I'm beginning to feel like I live in the animal kingdom vs. my quiet neighborhood!! I have seen hawks earlier this week, and now this!!! I'm terrified to let them outside at this point to be perfectly honest!

[bijoux1]

I'm so sorry you and your dog had to go through that and I would imagine that had to be extremely frightening!! Thank you for the information.. He has definitely not had swelling. Were they able to save your dog?

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by bijoux1

Thank you very much!! It actually has scared me a good bit! He is sitting here in my lap, and he definitely doesn't feel good. Don't get me wrong, if this is just a scrape, I will HAPPILY take that!! It's just that this same dog is extremely curious, and I have seen a few snakes in my back yard over the past few weeks...which is one of many reasons they NEVER go outside alone.

A few weeks ago I looked over to him three feet from me and bending down to examine what was a HUGE snake! I said leave it, and miraculously he did. Thankfully he wasn't bitten, and I now look first before they go in the yard. I didn't see a snake today, but the man that mows my yard hurt his shoulder last week so the grass is taller than normal. I'm beginning to feel like I live in the animal kingdom vs. my quiet neighborhood!! I have seen hawks earlier this week, and now this!!! I'm terrified to let them outside at this point to be perfectly honest!

We have snakes here too. So I understand! I freak out when we see them. There are also other critters too. Is it possible he was bit by something else?

[bijoux1]

I thought about that, and it is possible I guess. I just can't imagine what else it could be. My only thought it possibly being a snake was because I have found some tiny skinny snakes in the back yard before, and I was thinking that maybe it could have gotten him if he reached down to sniff it, and even though I was standing there I guess I might not have seen it with the grass being a week overgrown. Maybe when I turned to look at the others...I keep them all right by me these days...so I just don't know! I think it's an awfully big coincidence that the vomiting started at the exact same time of the bleeding on his neck though.

[bijoux1]

BTW, I had to laugh about Rosie chasing the deer earlier today That is crazy, but I probably would have been scared to death at the time to have her chasing something so large! She must be pretty fearless

[BabyGirl Rosie]

That does seem a little strange. The vet didn't think so?

Yes, Miss Rosie thinks she is a bad A! She never barked or anything. Just took off! So I am running across the yard in my PJ's and bare feet! Quite a sight!

[bamawife]

We have snakes here, too. I have killed 2 while cutting our grass. When I take Raley out, he is leashed. If he decides to spend too much time sniffing near bushes, etc...I tell him "no" and we move to another spot in the yard.

[bijoux1]

I just about can't take the snakes!! I'm literally terrified of even the smallest ones, but I am telling you I lost it when the huge one was I swear to you, an inch from him a few weeks ago!! I looked and thought he was maybe pawing at a lizard just in time to see him paw at what I immediately realized to be a very large snake..that raised up in the air past my knee level, and I realized there was still at least 1-2 feet of his body still flat on the ground! That did it for me!

I just thank God Cooper listened and came running to me. I made it inside to realize I was crying and shaking. Had it been my tiniest, I have no doubt that she would have tried to play and paw at it, and the outcome could have been absolutely horrible for any of them!

[Yorkiemom1]

My brothers collie got snake bit on his face, but the angle the snake struck, it only got one fang embeded in his jaw...in the area under his ear and toward his mouth....that is what probably saved his life.....my brother called me in a panic...the dog was frightened and in pain, and my brother couldnt get him out from under his truck....the vet came to the ranch, he gave "large doses of Benedryl, antibiotics and Vitamin C...the dog survived...took 3 days for his face to go down so he could open his eye...but, to answer your question, there was just ONE fang that went into Fred's face....

[bijoux1]

[QUOTE=BabyGirl Rosie;3947723]That does seem a little strange. The vet didn't think so?

No, that's what I kept asking him because the timing was just too strange..this dog had not eaten a bite for hours and it was only a while after we came inside when he started to vomit so profusely. But the vet just said it was probably a big coincidence.

[bijoux1]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

My brothers collie got snake bit on his face, but the angle the snake struck, it only got one fang embeded in his jaw...in the area under his ear and toward his mouth....that is what probably saved his life.....my brother called me in a panic...the dog was frightened and in pain, and my brother couldnt get him out from under his truck....the vet came to the ranch, he gave "large doses of Benedryl, antibiotics and Vitamin C...the dog survived...took 3 days for his face to go down so he could open his eye...but, to answer your question, there was just ONE fang that went into Fred's face....

Thank you for the info!! I'm so glad the vet came out to him, and I'm happy the dog is now ok...How horribly scary!!!

That's why I thought it was indeed possible to have a bite and not have the two distinct marks. But, this was on the top front of his neck and almost looked like whatever it was thankfully didn't get much past the surface.. but obviously, it was enough to cause him to bleed a bit.

They did prescribe him antibiotics, and I gave him a large dose of antihistamine when I got home. Again thank you for the info!!