Dog bitten

[TazerAngel]

On Wednesday I arrived home to fine my Great Dane had been bitten on the paw by a snake. His paw was bleeding profusely and his whole leg was swollen to 3 times the normal size. I rushed him to the vet, who treated him with antivenom. He spent the night there and is now back at home. According to the vet, only his size saved him: he weighs about 70kg. At first I thought it was a puffadder which had got him, as I have removed about 5 from my garden and in my house in the last few months. However, yesterday, I caught a rinkhals in my laundry, which is about 5m from where he was bitten (I followed the blood trail to the bite spot). So I think maybe the rinkhals got him. It was very aggressive, even striking at the inside of the bucket, when my husband relocated him. I would like to know the following: Is the rinkhals bite also cytotoxic or hemotoxic as well as neurotoxic? My dog's leg is still swollen, but the bruising is increasing to his chest and along his flank. I am quite worried about this. Is this normal for a rinkhals bite? Or maybe was it a puffadder that bit him? Would a rinkhals and puffadder co-exist in the same area? I would appreciate any insight you can give me.

[Sico]

Yes they would co-exist in the same area, as evidenced by the fact that you have caught and removed both from your property! It would help if you told us where you were as well?
Rinkhals have a mixed venom, which contains both neuro- and cytotoxic components, and probably some heamolytic components (as do almost all snake venoms to varying degrees and mixtures). To look at the bite and determine what the specific species was that caused it would be difficult, especially as the antivenom would have neutralised the majority of the major symptoms expected to have developed (the whole point of giving it though). If it was a puff adder I'd have expected much more inflammation, and tissue destruction and necrosis developing, than just significant bruising with some inflammation. That said, we all react differently to bites and it's hard to say that based on what you see, X species of snake was the culprit. Can you post some pictures of the dog if you have any, it will be very interesting to see?

[TazerAngel]

I live in Harrismith, in a nature reserve. I know both species occur in this area, so do co-exist (especially in my garden lol), but would they be so close together eg within a 5m radius? Aren't they both territorial? I will be uploading a few photos of the bite.

[TazerAngel]

Photos taken yesterday, after he came home from the vet.

[TazerAngel]

This morning, the bruising has increased to his right chest, across to his left chest. Large amounts of fluid in this area.

[Jamster]

It may look nasty but he should be fine, If he has made it this far i dont see why he wont be alright. the discolouration may take some time to go away and i think he might be a bit stiff after the swelling goes down though, good luck and all the best

[TazerAngel]

Thanks for the encouragement. It is a bit worrying to see the discoloration spreading the way it is.

[shadowfoot]

We were in the same boat as you, our one horse got bit by a puffadder. I never thought that a leg could swell up that much, luckily horses are big and snake venom does not affect them as much as it would a dog.
Good luck, im sure everything will be fine.

[jesica]

that is very sad news, how is the dog doing now

[TazerAngel]

Hi

My dog made a full recovery, so lasting side effects, or anything. I am so happy about that. Hopefully, he'll stay away from snakes in future!!

[Blet]

My 1st thought would have been 'puffadder' in this case, especially in predominantly cytotoxic effects. The swelling and associated bruising (poor clotting ability typically 24-72h post bite, post grad studies currently being done at Onderstepoort), is typical. Rinkhals bite, predominently neurotoxic with respiratory distress setting in within hours of a bite. Interestingly, dogs don't easily suffer from compartment syndrome and can therefore swell to dramtic levels with hardly any tissue damage ever! This is not the case with Vipera berus where I saw plenty of necrosis with bites. Your only real dangers with puffy bites are (1) occlusion of the upper airways secondary to swellling with bites to the face....tracheostomy or (2) hypovolaemic shock, again due to extensive localized swelling. Coagulopathies are transient and rarely cause issues (interestingly worse in snouted cobras....same study!). Neither does infection. Hypovolaemic shock kills...effectively the patient looses little or no fluid, but due to the large volume of fluid localized in and around the bite site, very little is available to the rest of the body. This amounts to poor circulation and oxygenation of tissue and organ (esp renal) failure.

Using antiserum is risky and of debatable use in puffy bites...talking dogs and cats here...My puffy treatment plan, in order of importance....(1)iv fluids at double maintenance while monitoring urinary output (2)monitor respiration and take early action to relieve respiratory distress....24h observation essential (3)non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for pain relief...could be backed up by opioids (4) if tissue damage, antibiotics. Otherwise of no use.
Dogs recover rapidly. Pre-existing renal, hepatic disease or coagulopathies may worsen prognosis significantly and I've seen fatalities....very rare

[jesica]

[christelbooyse]

My jackrussel was bitten by n rinkhals on saturday we acted very quick and injected her with teramyzin she is still alive but she keeps on throwing up slime she drinks a lot of water but keeps on throwing up she still doesn't eat she walks around on three legs this afternoon I gave her some blousel and a tablet to stop the nauseaness she looks better now but on the leg where the snake bit her the hair has fallen out and there's yellow stuff coming out what can I use to clean the wound

[Bushviper]

Okay terramycin is an oxytetracycline antibiotic and has no effect on the venom of any snake. It is also way too early for any secondary infection to occur so this was a waste of time as well as a risk because you can be making antibiotic resistant bacteria in a wounded area. Snakes fangs and venom and virtually sterile so this is the least of your worries.

The dog is reacting to the venom and nausea is normal. Make sure the dog gets something to drink and it should be on a drip preferably. I have no idea what blousel is but I would not self medicate any more. Clean the wound with any antiseptic liquid like betadine or others that are meant for OPEN wounds. Not savlon or dettol. You can also put an ointment like bactroban or polysporin on the wound for now.

Hope the doggie pulls through.

[TazerAngel]

Just be careful of liver damage. My Great Dane, survived the bite, but a few months ago he contracted billiary and was very sick and almost didn't make it, his entire body was yellow, including his irises. The vet confirmed that it was possible that he sustained liver damage from the bite and that was why he reacted so badly to the billiary.