Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

42 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
The dog’s behavior: Coral snake venom is neurotoxic, meaning it affects
the nerves and causes weakness and paralysis. Signs may be delayed for several
hours. They include muscle twitching, pinpoint pupils, weakness, difficulty
swallowing, shock, and collapse. Death is by respiratory paralysis.
TREATING SNAKEBITES
First identify the snake and look at the bite. If the snake is not poisonous, clean
and dress the wound as described in the section on Wounds (on this page). If it
appears the dog has been bitten by a poisonous snake, proceed at once to the veterinary
hospital. (If the snake has been killed, take it with you for identification.
If not, try to describe it as completely as you can.) Some specific precautions:
• Keep the dog quiet. Venom spreads rapidly. Excitement, exercise, and
struggling increase the rate of absorption. If possible, carry the dog.
• Do not wash the wound, as this increases venom absorption.
• Do not apply ice, as this does not slow absorption and can damage tissue.
• Do not make cuts over the wound and/or attempt to suck out the
venom. This is never successful and you could absorb venom.
• Be aware that the snake’s fangs may be venomous for up to two hours
after it dies, even if you have cut off the head.
Veterinary treatment involves respiratory and circulatory support, antihistamines,
intravenous fluids, and species-specific antivenin. The earlier the
antivenin is given, the better the results. Because signs of envenomation are
often delayed, all dogs who have been bitten by a poisonous snake—even
those who don’t show signs—should be hospitalized and observed for 24 hours.
If you live in an area where your dog is likely to come in contact with poisonous
snakes, you may choose to take him through sensitization training. A skilled
professional will use an electric collar to train your dog to fear and avoid snakes.
Wounds
The two most important goals in treating wounds are to stop the bleeding and
to prevent infection. Wounds are painful, so be prepared to restrain and muzzle
the dog before treating the wound.
CONTROLLING BLEEDING
Bleeding may be arterial (bright red blood will spurt out) or venous (dark red
blood will ooze out), or sometimes both. Do not wipe a wound that has
stopped bleeding, as this will dislodge the clot. Similarly, don’t pour hydrogen