Eric (2 Guys and a Cooler) and his family lost their dear weimaraner yesterday from bites of a coral snake. The dog grabbed the snake in the middle, allowing it to freely bite his face. It was not a slow passing as it was a big dog. They desperately tried to access any help they could get, not knowing there was a clinic on, and no one they spoke to had any antidote or could be of any assistance.
We need to learn from this to prevent any further tragedies of this sort. I can only think of 'Snakerid" which would deter the snake from being on the property. I know Fran lost her dog to a snake last year. Could ARF or Chele or Animales or Kris or Roberto be of help?
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Comments like that Walter only serve to discourage input from people trying to help. Do you know anything about the Gruber anti-snake venom? Why not try all tools available? The Vit C sounds good too. The local people plant Rue (Ruda) around their places to deter snakes..it has a nasty scent but is pretty and has yellow flowers year round.
I was sorry to learn of the snake incident. The shortage or absence of antivenin is a concern.
Here is an alternate approach for dealing with poisonous bites from snakes or insects.
There has been much use of Vitamin C injectable in Australia where there are many venomous snakes, and bites are common in livestock and man. Here is an interesting article by Pat Colby:
Early in 1930, an American, Dr Klenner, did much research on the use of
Vitamin C on humans (extensive article on Vitamin C by Dr Klennner here
_http://www.nutri.com/wn/klenner.html_ (www.nutri.com/wn/klenner.html)
In turn a Californian Vet, Dr Wendell Bellfield, carried on the good work
with impressive results on all sorts of dog ailments that are generally
considered incurable or fatal. Today, in USA, there are now a significant
number if Vets practicing alternative Medicine such as this.
After studying the literature, I (Pat Colby - is a farmer who writes
books on animal care and lectures widely on the subject as well as being a
consultant.) decided that I really had nothing to lose trying Vitamin C on my
own farm animals. The first one was a pony, almost moribund, whose blood was
later diagnosed as having the largest amount of Tiger Snake venom the Vet
had ever seen in an animal. Within 24 hours of being unable to move, and
also having considerable difficulty in breathing due to pneumonia, the pony
was grazing happily in its owners garden, apparently quite healthy. I only
had one 30ml bottle of Vitamin C, half of what I would have liked, so I put
half of the bottle into each side of the neck by intramuscular injection.
After that we treated sundry dogs, two cats and several goats including a
stud buck. All recovered. A very valuable Alpaca which was being watched by
its owner from her kitchen window went down to the dam to examine
something. The owner, horrified, watched a large snake rise up and strike it on
the nose - the worst place - and thanked her lucky stars the Vitamin C was in
the fridge - not still on the shopping list. Rushing out with only 15 ml in
the syringe - she injected the Alpaca before any symptoms arose. The snake
had looked like a brown or a tiger. The result - happy ending.
The great advantage of Vitamin C is that anaphylaxis does not occur and
the variety of snake does not matter. Vitamin C is cheap, easy to store and
taking it on a hunting trip is no problem. All you need is a 20 ml syringe,
some largish needles - say No 18 - and the bottle of Vitamin C. It can all
be carried in a small wallet on ones belt. In between times it should be
kept in the fridge. Although the stuff can be carried in Summer without
deteriorating, I suggest to hunters that they get a fresh supply each Spring
just to be on the safe side.
After much reading of printouts of Bellfield's and other literature, many
supplied by Dr Glen Dettman, a retired pathologist who lives near
Melbourne, I have tried Vitamin C on many situations. A dog in a tick coma,
spider bites, dogs with Parvo, Tetanus following a terrible injury from a car, and
in cases of shock - all with unfailing success.
Vitamin C can be used as crushed tablets or powder straight into the mouth
in cases of sickness. From my own experience, rubbing the powder into a
redback spider bite took the pain (which is incredible) our within seconds. I
followed it up with 10 grams by mouth. The spread of the poison in my arm
stopped and I was able to resume work within a few minutes.
The first goat I treated with Vitamin C was given a teaspoon of ascorbic
acid powder (about 5 grams) every half hour for two hours, like the Alpaca,
he was bitten right on the nose as I later found out. He recovered
perfectly well. That was in the days before the injectable supplies were
available.
50 ml bottles of Vitamin C can be obtained from some Chemists, most fodder
or pet stores. Make sure the brand is 2 ml per gram and not 4 otherwise
you need twice as much at twice the cost. I mentioned the size of the needles
as 18 or thereabouts because the stuff can be slightly glutinous and speed
is generally all important on the occasions when it is needed.
Snake venom affects the nervous system which slows down until natural
functions cease and death occurs. A painful way to die. It can cause instant
death but this is most unusual and I have never seen it. When a dog has been
bitten, its eyes will soon appear to look all black. That is the pupils
have relaxed and dilated. Since snake bite can - and usually does - occur
unwitnessed, if your dog slows down and becomes lethargic or distressed, do
look at the eyes at once and even if they do not show much sign get on with the
injection. If by chance the fang marks are detected, (it is usually damp
around the bite) rub in Vit C. Even a chewed up tablet will work. But do not
waste time looking for the marks. They often only show up a few days later
when the hair falls away around them.
Dogs of 30 to 50 kg will require about 10 - 15 ml by intramuscular
injection in the side of the neck. I was taught by the teaching Vet at the
Veterinary College to avoid doing injections in the back legs because it is
too easy to damage vital nerves there. Three quarters to 1 cm penetration is
needed, and, if in doubt, get it under the skin anyway. You can repeat the
treatment without risk. Vitamin C overdose results in nothing worse than
diarrhea, and anaphylaxis cannot occur. However when the dog is really sick it
will allow you to do the injecting (which can sting in small animals)
without objecting. If it starts to make a fuss you know that it is feeling
much better, and the subsequent doses should be given as powder in the mouth.
It is a good idea to give two or three backups just to make sure all the
venom has been detoxified.
This is a terrible story indeed and my heart goes out to the family. A minor point - don't they actually live in Alto Lino (not that a coral snake couldn't be found in El Santuario as well)?
Prior to gardening, I do a sweep of the yard with a leaf blower, that eradicates most reptiles.
If you had a 4' (solid) cement wall with another 4' of chain link on top (security wall) would that stop all snakes or can they climb a smooth surface that high? Maybe a fine mesh instead of chain link?
I was told once that if you plant citronella around the perimeter of your property they will stay out. Small sharp edges on the blades of the leaves. I also use it around my garden to keep the insects out.
Frank Gruber has a snake antidote that can be purchased at the BCP market.
So sad and so sorry his family had to suffer this loss.
my understanding is that the serum is being made by the University of Costa Rica in San Jose (which one, I do not recall).
However, this article mentions it. Don't know if they sell to private individuals or not.
http://www.semanariouniversidad.ucr.cr/noticias/pais/13547-costa-ri...
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