Last night John and I returned from a class at church to find both our dogs howling as if they had something cornered or treed. We whistled for them, and they came running like scared little boys. Normally it would take multiple whistles and bribing with treats to call them off something they had cornered, but not tonight. They came in the house very subdued and way too calm compared to the norm. So after looking them over head to toe, waiting about 10 minutes while trying to figure out what was wrong with them, we slowly started to see their faces swell. We eventually found a snake bite on Gunner's face, and Gauge's face was too swollen to find anything without causing him more pain. The emergency vet is an hour drive from us, so we called for advice. Fortunately, the on-call vet said that large breed dogs can handle snake bites with just a few benadryls and some antibiotics which they could wait until morning for. So we gave them benadryl and I stayed up all night watching their breathing and making sure they didn't go into a coma. So morning FINALLY came, we went to the vet, all was well, left with some antibiotics, and returned home where both dogs proceeded to immediately search the corner of the property where they had been bitten....such smart dogs. *sigh*
Here in NC we have 37 species of snakes...6 are venomous. I don't care what kind they are, they are all snakes. Did you know that "the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the most dangerous North American snake. Specimens have been captured as large as 8 feet long and weighing 15 pounds. The snake's 3/4" fangs are capable of penetrating almost any boot." AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! No more flip flops for me, it's all steel-lined boots from this point on.... actually, more like full body armor. And did you know that Rattlesnakes have night vision?? If I can't see it, I don't want it seeing me!
In my web research, I also found this statement "Living with venomous snakes is really no different than living with hornets, or other minor risks of daily life." Sure, I despise hornets as well, but I can smoosh a hornet, or SureShot (bug spray) a hornet from 27 feet away! Not so with a snake! There is a product called SnakeAway sold in every store out here. It's a granual that you sprinkle around the perimeter of your property and snakes don't cross over it. When we moved here in 2007, we did just that...and viola! no snakes last year! So of course this year I figured "we didn't have snakes last year, so we must not have snakes in the this area"....someone please hit me upside the head! That is like a schizophrenic saying "well, I took my medicine today and I didn't hear the voices in my head, so I must be okay and can stop taking my meds". Needless to say, SnakeAway will be outlining our fenceline and front yard by the weekend by my husband who I will force to drive his lawn mower around to spread the SnakeAway to keep him from walking anywhere a snake might be hiding!
In the end, both Gunner and Gauge are fine. Milking it for all its worth, looking pitiful while standing next to the treat jar so that mommy will give them doggy candy because she feels so bad for them.
If you are a snake lover, or just want to hone your knowledge on NC snakes http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/venomousnake.htm Have fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment