rinkhals vs dog

[bigmanox]

Hi there , a rinkhals spat my dog in the eye the vet says it must get anti venom is that true.

[tJokkie_]

I am no expert but i think a few people may agree with a big NO..

If the dog only got spat and not bitten , you should be able to just wash it out of the eyes properly

Regards
Chris

[MISA]

Hi there , a rinkhals spat my dog in the eye the vet says it must get anti venom is that true.

Usually the venom can be washed out of the eye with copious amounts of any bland liquid,

As for Anti venom being administered ? I couldn't think why unless the venom has actually entered the animals blood stream either through an open wound or the dog was bitten by the snake (you said spat in eyes, not bitten). If this was the case the dog would be showing signs or symptoms of invenomation.


IMHO> Me thinks, the "anti venom" idea is nothing more than a bump up on the bill to cover an installment on the vet's new mercedes or his next overseas trip.

[Snakes4Africa]

You do not antivenom for spit (venom) in the eyes. MISA is 100% correct

[dannylomb]

I'm with the vet on this it oftenly happens to people when eye drops are absorbed by the veins in your eyes and there's a negative effect. Thus the same could happen to a canine.

[alexander]

I've never heard of a case with venom in the eyes that requires antivenom, wash well and should be fine.

Danny, what are these negative effects and why should they require antivenom?

[Sico]

My stupid dachsunds have had Rinkhals venom in their eyes, which swelled up, all I gave them was a shot of hydrocortisone and took them to the vet for an eye exam with fluorescine. AV is not indicated in most cases.

[Bushviper]

Antivenom for the eyes is not required. The amount of venom absorbed by the eyes is minimal and the amount of help the antivenom is going to be is so insignificant that the costs are not justified. Rinsing with water is all they do for humans so why would the dog require anything more.

[dannylomb]

The negative effect with the eye drops is cuased by the veins if your eyes are blood shot and it replicates the consuption and cuases light headedness.

[Snakes4Africa]

Oh no!!! Not lightheadedness! Thats the worst. Prevent that at all costs!

Danny, I have a sneaky suspicion you have no idea what you are talking about. Not to be offensive.

[Bushviper]

PMSL @ Snakes$Africa

Dannylomb please check your spelling like "caused" and "consuption" before you press the submit button.

Could you also make sure of your facts before posting especially when medical advice is being dispensed. Incorrect information could be debilitating when extrapolated to human victims.

[dannylomb]

I'm Sorry about the spelling I blame that on my Dutch heritage that was posted from my phone so there was no spell check.

I may not know exactly what I'm talking about but I was advised by a GP that this happens.
What bothers me is if a vet tells you the animal needs anti-venom why not follow that advice, they don't get a degree for nothing.

My close friends at onderstepoort believe any contact to venom by a animal should be treated with caution.

[alexander]

The problem with many doctors is they hardly ever have to deal with snakebite, they do a couple courses on it. I'm not saying they know nothing, but they do have a massive amount of learning to do and 90 % of the time they will only deal with common problems. So when it comes to snakebite I would rather look at previous situations or ask people who are involved in many cases, such as BV, if I wanted to be absolutly sure of treatment.

[geckoman]

When I was small I was attacked by a rinkhals but I stepped away from it I was lucky that it never spat at me.

[armata]

Try different wording geckoman - snakes never attack - they defend themselves. A subtle but important difference when trying to educate the masses. Like ' like the cobra attacked me when I hit it with my golf club!' sort of thing.