My Dog Blu Was Bit By A Poisonous Copperhead Snake Today

Lara

Lara

Friend of the Arts
Location
Mid-Atlantic Coast
I'm in such a blue funk, I can hardly type this. Friday I had a lovely black metal picket fence installed around the perimeter of my back yard after having the woods completely cleared of underbrush, limbs, inferior trees, etc and turned into a pretty english woodland...all for my new rescue Beagle "Blu" and my Pom/Poodle mix, "Bella" so they could run and play unleashed to their hearts content.

I've had Blu (photo below) for a month and a half now and is the most loving, obedient, sweet, and loyal dog one could ever ask for. I've had to teach him a lot because everything is new to him but he's a quick learner.

Yesterday, Blu was at the farthest point of the fenced backyard, way down the hill when he was bit by a poisonous Copperhead snake just inside the fence line. He was laying there, yelping loudly, drooling from pain, shaking, swollen leg, and unable to walk. I immediately ran down to him, scooped up all 22 lbs of him and ran up the hill as fast as I could, up the deck steps, grabbed a blanket for the car while still holding Blu...then off to the Vet.

If ever there was a time for me to have a heart attack, that would be it.

Dr. K and his staff of 4 took X-rays to rule out a fracture since I never saw the snake, found a probable fangs entry, and intravenously pumped Blu full of liquid to the point of being bloated (liquid was seeping out through his skin on his back...they said that's normal). I walked out with a big bag of various meds for pain and antibiotics and instructions.

Blu rested soundly pretty much through the night and now I begin my effort of getting him to take these meds. He's impossible to get a pill in him but, somehow, that must change. I've had dogs all my life and know all the tricks in the book but Blu's the most stubborn.

I'll have to carry Blu up and down steps to get outside and do his 'business' because he still can't walk and I doubt he'll use the puppy pads I have for him.

Here is a photo of Blu only 2 days after I brought him home from the kill shelter. I gave him a shampoo before the pic but his tummy is so skinny...not anymore though. He's been well fed for a month and a half.

Those eyes. You can see deep into his beautiful soul. I love him so much.

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'He's impossible to get a pill in him but, somehow, that must change. I've had dogs all my life and know all the tricks in the book but Blu's the most stubborn.'

Beagles are like that

I so love 'em

Get well, Blu
 

My little guy (Butters) was bitten by a copperhead just over his left eye the first day I had him home. The side of his face was so swollen and he was having trouble swallowing. The vet worked on him and told me he'd be ok. I'm glad to say that with the exception of a slightly lazy eye, he seems to have recovered. :)
 

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So sorry to hear about your new little dog getting bit by that copperhead, Lara, and hoping that he makes a full recovery.
Since he made it through the initial 24 hours after being bitten, it seems likely that he will recover just fine; but will definitely need those antibiotics and pain meds.
When I lived in Missouri, I was bitten by a copperhead, and it was NOT a fun experience. My ankle was where the snake bit me, but my whole leg swelled up, and I could barely walk, it hurt so much the first few days. The Doctor told me to keep the leg elevated, so I guess, for a dog, that would mean just to be lying down, which is probably what Blu is doing anyway.

One thing that has sometimes worked for me when trying to get a dog to take medication, is to grind up the pill, add water/milk to dissolve, and then use a baby syringe to squeeze it into their mouth.
It probably tastes awful; but it is harder for them to spit out than trying to push a pill down their throat while they are squiggling and chomping your fingers.
 
Lara, My heart goes out to you and poor little Blu. What a frightful thing to have happen. It was so hard to read about Blu's pain and what he was going through after he was bit.

I'm so happy for you that at least Blu is still with you, that is great news.

Since I have a Beagle too, I can empathize with you about their trait of stubbornness. I'm carrying my 24lb Beagle around lately too, but because he has lost most of his sight.

Wish Blu a speedy recovery, he is so lucky to have you as such a great "Mom", who loves him so much! Love the pic, he is just so cute and those beautiful brown eyes!
 
Thank you Ken, Gary, Ike, Terry, and StarSong for your well wishes and sharing about your pets.

Squattingdog, your "Butters" is adorable, good pic, and it's encouraging to know that he recovered ok.

Cindy, I had read about your dog's blindness and my heart goes out to you both. They are heavy to hold aren't they. I'm used to my 11 lb Bella girl.

Happyflowerlady, I can't imagine what you went through when you yourself were bitten by a copperhead! Oh the pain! It's frightening. Glad you're okay. And thanks for the pill taking tip. I'll try that because my technique did not go well.

You all are so sweet and it really helps boost my spirits. Meds took me a couple of hours to administer but I think it all finally went down. That little sneak can hide and hold a pill forever...long after I've said "good boy" and then spits it out. Blu in the past hour, has started to perk up and is making progress walking around. He even did his business outside which was a pleasant surprise.

He's going to be fine I think. I have 2 weeks of meds to go so we'll see.
 
Oh Lara, so glad Blu is doing better and taking his pills.

You made me laugh reading about him hiding his pills and spitting them out. I find my dogs thyroid pills later on, on my kitchen floor, thinking for sure I gave him that pill.....yep they are smart & tricky!
 
Lara, I felt so bad reading about poor Blu (and you). What a horrible scare. Thank goodness you heard him and got him to the vet in time!

Here's yet another tip on getting a pill down. Wrap it firmly into a glob of cheese, like American cheese. He should eat it right up. This was a tip from my dog's vet.

There are even tasty nuggets of some kind sold just for inserting dog's pills. My vet sells them but he said even just the cheese would work.

I hope poor baby Blu feels better asap.

BTW, I bet your place looks beautiful with all that sprucing up, and those black metal fences are so nice looking. But copperheads? I never even saw one, omg I would freakout.

Funny thing about dogs....now matter how large the enclosure, the dog will always be at the furthest point.
 
Thank you Shalimar and jujube for your caring thoughts.

Rose, that get well card is soooo cute!! Thank you. I have tried hiding the pill in peanut butter, which he loves, but he's just too smart. Maybe cheese would work but here's what I tried this morning that finally worked:

What finally worked this morning was pork roast. I didn't want it so I decided to cut it into strips like chicken jerky treats for dogs, but not processed. The dogs are wild about it so I had one small chunk in one hand, and in he other hand I had the pill with smooshed meat wrapped around it (I know, ick). I showed Blu the chunk, let him smell it, let him like my fingers, then put the pill in his mouth and followed it quickly with the chunk of meat. Did you follow that? :D
 
Lara said:
Thank you Shalimar and jujube for your caring thoughts.

Rose, that get well card is soooo cute!! Thank you. I have tried hiding the pill in peanut butter, which he loves, but he's just too smart. Maybe cheese would work but here's what I tried this morning that finally worked:

What finally worked this morning was pork roast. I didn't want it so I decided to cut it into strips like chicken jerky treats for dogs, but not processed. The dogs are wild about it so I had one small chunk in one hand, and in he other hand I had the pill with smooshed meat wrapped around it (I know, ick). I showed Blu the chunk, let him smell it, let him like my fingers, then put the pill in his mouth and followed it quickly with the chunk of meat. Did you follow that? :D
Click to expand...

I did Lara, and good work! Blu is on his way back to health thanks to his mommy and her pork roast..
 
Aw, I'm so sorry to hear about little Blu, Lara. He is precious and I hope he is feeling better soon. I know how difficult some doggies are with pills... I went through that with a little Yorkie. At one point I got a plastic syringe and would crush the pill in some water, then squirt it with the syringe to the back of his throat!! (I couldn't fool him with cheese, peanut butter, lunch meat... nothing!) Anyway, my best to both of you.
 
Your little Blu is so cute. My first dog looked just like him. I'm glad he is making progress. I'm glad the pork roast made pill time easier. Do you think there are anymore snakes out there? Maybe a nest of them?
 
When I was a kid, we had several dogs, and when mom had to give them the worm medicine, she made little hamburger balls, just large enough to completely cover the wormer.
Then , she got all of the dogs together, so they really wanted to gobble down those little chunks of hamburger, and she would toss one to each dog, and that dog would catch and wolf down his hamburger just as fast as he could so no other dog could get his bite of the treat.
It might work to help Blu take his “disguised” meds if you also had your other little dog nearby, so that Blu was even more motivated to eat his piece.
 
Awwwwww Lara. Oh my goodness. You must have had your heart in your throat over this.
Good thing you are quick and on the ball. You got him to the vets quickly and figured out how administer his medicine.
Pork roast. Good thinking. :yes:
Yep! You are definitely a GREAT doggie mom.:love_heart:
 
Thank you everybody. Ruth, I thought of that right away (more snakes out there). They don't typically nest until later in the summer but I am concerned with possibly more full grown ones slithering around. The doctor's assistants told me to get rid of tall grasses and other places they can hide but they was nothing like that where Blu was. Now I'm afraid to let them out there without full checking everywhere first and watching them closely.
 

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