[rick_973]

Ok here's my situation.

I live in a tiny border town with not vet. Anyway, my 3 year old boxer(bout 60-70lbs) was bit in face by a rattlesnake after a short hike. Anyway, as soon as it happened I rushed home, than to a vet office across the border.

It took maybe 20-30 mintues to ge to the vet since the bite. Anyway this vet was new to me, and didn't know what had bit my pup. He though it was an animal such as a racoon or of that kind that just fought back. He though this because of my dogs cut on his cheek.

Next day we took him to te vet we know and trust, and he right away knew it was a rattler since the swelling, marks, etc etc etc...

SO anyway he has been in the vets for 3 days now. He went from completley swolen to maybe 40% swollen. He is/was swollen from the tip of the nose to the neck. Poor guy.

Now that the swellings gone, and the black tissue that formes from the venom on the site of the bite has stopped spreading and did almost no damage, the vet said there is only one thing we have to see from him for him to give him back to us. He has to eat on his own.

He is being fed by mouth with this gel like substance. And also has an IV running with medications that he hopes will help him recover faster.

He is just worried that he isn't eating... he said this could be due to some internal organ not working properly.

My question is... how long could this last? The vet said he might not eat because he's scared that the food that passes through his still swollen throat will cause imence pain. It could be a few things but he was to just wait for him to react on his own... he drinks water just fine, but just won't bother with food.

Any info on this is appreciated... thanks!

[Catsmine]

I don't know rattler venom as well as I do copperhead, but they're supposed to be similar. The swelling can take as much as 10 days to go down from copperhead bites. There is a lot of muscle soreness involved too. It's possible chewing is painful right now. I hope this (sadly little) info helps set your mind at ease.

[rick_973]

Thanks, yeah anything helps right now.

Do you think that its possible that he won't eat because of damaged internal organ? I don't know much of this, that's why I ask.



Again, thanks a lot.

[Catsmine]

Doubtful. From what I understand, rattler and cobra venom doesn't travel through the body that way. Any damage should be near the site of the bite. Let the vet handle it. If he didn't know before, he has the references to learn all there is to know about it.

[rick_973]

Once again thaks 1000 times.

I went this morning to go check him out and he looked way better...

Ill keep good faith on this and he'll be home in no time

[rick_973]

Once again thaks 1000 times.

I went this morning to go check him out and he looked way better...

Ill keep good faith on this and he'll be home in no time