Snakebit!
Written by Kenneth L. Marcella, DVM
Snakes commonly found in the United States can cause serious injury to a horse. Horses are at
the top of the list of sensitivity to snakebites and are followed in order by sheep, cows, goats,
dogs, pigs, and cats. However, because a lethal dose of venom is based on body weight, most
horses and cows are simply too large for snakes to kill. Other factors that affect the severity of
the bite are:
.
Type of venom. Some snakes are deadlier than others.
- Location of bite. Bites to the head, face, and other areas of major blood supply are far
more serious than bites to limbs and the body. Fatalities in horses and cattle have been
reported when the snakebite is on the muzzle, head, or neck.
- Size and species of the victim and its age and general health and condition. Dogs are
most commonly bitten because of their aggressive and inquisitive nature. Most dogs, like
horses, are bitten on the muzzle face as they sniff to investigate. Given the relatively small size
of the dog compared to that of the horse, many snakebites in dogs are fatal.
Poisonous snakes fall into two categories: the elapine snakes, which include the cobra, mamba
and coral snake, and viperine, which include the pit vipers, such as rattlesnakes, copperheads,
cottonmouths, and moccasins.
Elapine snakes have short fangs and tend to chew their victims. Their venom is mainly
neurotoxic in that it affects the nervous system and kills its target by paralyzing the respiratory
system.
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Snakebit!
Written by Kenneth L. Marcella, DVM
Viperine
penetrate,
damage
snake
venom
to
snakes,
and
blood
consist
withdraw.
located
vessels
of
potent
throughout
The
and
venom
tissue
enzymes,
loss
the
of
these
Americas,
even
peptides,
snakes
ifyou
the
however,
and
victim
is
neurotoxins
mainly
recovers.
have
hemotoxic
long,
The
hinged
main
causes
ingredients
fangs
that
massive
strike,
of
Poisonous
easy-to-remember
nonpoisonous
snakes
snakes
can
ways.
is
be
round.
Poisonous
differentiated
snakes
from
have
nonpoisonous
an
eliptical
snakes
pupil,
while
in
some
the
generally
pupil
of
that
somewhat
above
will
save
is
about
the
some
mouth
larger
the
worry
snakes
same
than
and
and
under
their
size
have
may
bodies
as
small
their
save
nose.
and
teeth
bodies.
awill
harmless
Some
will
rather
have
Poisonous
time
than
snake’s
single
spent
fangs,
snakes
scales
learning
life.
and
under
have
they
to
recognize
acauses
will
their
triangular
have
tail
and
poisonous
aswelling,
rounded
head
ais
pit
or
head
snakes
hole
is
rattlers.
Most
most
subspecies
Rattlesnakes
common
are
snakes
relatively
have
encountered
both
docile.
day
and
in
night
the
U.S.
vision
are
and
the
give
copperhead
birth
to
live,
and
poisonous
various
types
young.
of
Northeastern
The
feet
inch
but
rattler
smaller
long
Eastern
long
and
and
and
sidewinder
in
diamondback
snake
weigh
size.
capable
Itto
as
often
is
are
of
much
responsible
penetrating
camouflaged
found
rattler
as
in
15
is
the
pounds.
for
the
thick
Western
the
most
in
forested
hides.
majority
The
dangerous
states,
fangs
The
areas.
of
Western
recorded
and
of
American
this
the
snake
diamondback
timber
deaths
snake.
can
or
in
be
banded
Itand
can
three-quarters
is
U.S.
a
grow
similar
rattlesnake
The
up
prairie
cousin
to
isof
an
Rattlers
to
distance
the
as
find
similar
clicking
a
are
of
to
one-third
together
usually
the
dozing
crackling
startled
of
to
in
rattle
one-half
the
sound
when
shade
segments
of
of
they
their
frying
on
the
attack,
when
overall
fat.
other
the
such
length.
side.
tail
as
is
Rattlers
when
The
vibrated.
a
coil
horse
The
a
before
rattler
sound
steps
striking
makes
over
has
been
a
with
log
caused
in
described
a
strike
the
trail
by
Perhaps
a
makes
whether
voluntary
a
itsnake
the
decision
is
action
aggressive
most
whether
and
interesting
totally
and
the
meant
under
fact
bite
about
is
to
protective,
kill
reptile’s
its
victim.
is
control.
such
that
as
the
Current
when
decision
a
theories
larger
inject
predator
are
venom
that
startles
the
into
snake
a
it,
bite
or
isa
Many
biological
sense
equine
bites
the
deaths
work
size
horses
from
of
into
the
making
snakebites
are
horse,
thought
its
itthe
bites
poison
to
not
only
be
and
common.
nonvenomous
to
does
get
away.
not
seek
This
because
to
is
waste
perhaps
the
it.
snake
Because
another
has
reason
the
put
snake
a
why
lot
can
of
If
and
correct
horse.
a
horse
bite
slowly
snake
antiserum,
and
is
back
is
bitten,
attempt
trying
away.
but
there
to
avoid
do
Most
identify
are
not
confrontation,
snakes
a
waste
few
the
snake—it
steps
give
looking
to
and
take.
may
larger
for
If
be
riding,
want
animals
the
important
snake.
to
prevent
avoid
a
few
The
further
the
seconds
primary
in
horse
trying
strikes.
to
concern
from
to
get
determine
Try
looking
out
to
is
of
confirm
the
the
down
the
way.
Snakebites
close
Horses
breathing
examination
bitten
can
can
on
be
be
the
difficult
should
difficult
nose
or
or
to
impossible.
muzzle
locate
fang
on
can
marks.
the
swell
body
Viperine
so
because
much
snake
that
of
hair,
their
venom
bleeding,
nostrils
almost
or
immediate
close
and
but
swelling.
aeight
Seasoned
lubricated
saved
subsides
with
with
and
trail
this
treatment.
inserted
simple
and
procedure.
into
ranch
the
nostrils
hands
The
hose
carry
of
a
snakebitten
allows
two
six-inch
the
horse
horse;
pieces
to
more
breathe
of
old
than
garden
until
one
the
hose
animal
swelling
that
has
can
been
be
Intense
has
Increased
the
body.
become
pain,
heart
excited
nausea,
rate
or
causes
muscular
was
exercising
higher
weakness,
blood
heavily
flow
and
and
prior
shock
the
to
the
follow
dispersal
bite,
a
typical
itlater
is
the
important
snakebite.
poison
to
to
quiet
larger
If
the
him
horse
areas
down.
ANonpoisonous
above
Your
nurse
wide
goal
applies
the
only
constricting
is
bite
be
to
when
ifriders
keep
tight
itseen
is
drawing
enough
on
the
the
venom
(handkerchief
leg.
to
blood.
compress
in
Obviously,
the
bite
or
the
shredded
area.
tourniquets
veins
This
and
clothing)
band
on
lymphatic
the
should
should
face
vessels
be
are
be
as
not
placed
tight
and
indicated.
as
not
about
the
the
band
The
two
arteries.
band
a
inches
Wash
walk
bite
rarely
Do
damage.
not
by
this
the
does
the
mouth;
apply
old
horse
bite
much
practice
cold
with
you
slowly
good
or
soap
can
actually
hot
to
use
and
the
compresses.
and
usually
nearest
may
water.
rubber
contribute
only
If
trailer.
possible,
Recent
suction
serves
Do
to
cup
not
further
trailer
to
give
cut
in
a
the
damage.
snakebite
you
positively
horse
bite
something
area.
to
Also,
show
kit
its
Recent
ifwill
stall.
never
one
to
this
do
If
is
to
suck
research
until
you
available,
worsen
have
venom
help
shows
the
arrives.
to
but
from
travel,
this
a
Antivenin
some
therefore
threat
result.
effects
potential
of
reactive
anaphylactic
has
of
shock,
proved
problems
shock
and
useful
shock
to
good
with
the
in
can
antivenin,
serum.
horses
management
occur.
Corticosteroids
even
however,
A
veterinarian
when
will
be
given
because
required
and
may
24
fluids
hours
itsound
use
to
is
treat
produced
may
epinephrine
after
the
a
necessary
tissue
head
in
horses
to
bite.
damage
help
to
There
and
lessen
counteract
that
are
the
may
If
however,
signs
considered
antivenin
for
best
possibility
the
individual
bet
owner
of
shock.
for
being
the
be
in
locating
has
snakes.
sure
horse
these
Bites
the
to
biggest
is
cases.
the
have
by
Many
found
a
horse
antivenin
scorpions,
epinephrine
Treatment
difference
states
at
bitten
pasture
you
have
spiders
by
with
may
for
available.
or
asnakes
Hot
snake
all
in
snakebites.
need.
and
Line
of
these
the
stall
then
numbers
Because
occasional
with
injuries
the
The
diagnosis
a
in
of
severely
appropriate
your
the
Gila
generally
anaphylactic
area.
is
lizard
swollen
easy
antivenin
Rural
similar
must
to
leg
make.
hospitals
response
also
and
with
must
be
Most
exhibiting
the
be
are
use
times,
used
your
Shock
horses
venom
maintain
tempered
be
should
Penicillin
antioxidant)
utilized
is
be
focus
with
cardiorespiratory
the
are
with
given
to
the
can
most
counter
the
on
the
use
and
three
be
drugs
common
desire
given
of
since
the
areas—prevent
the
of
shock
to
ifreveal
choice.
appropriate
function.
many
needed.
problem
limit
and
the
snakes’
Intravenous
To
to
spread
following
or
antivenim;
minimize
this
delay
mouths
end,
of
snakebites.
fluids
venom
absorption
fluid
tissue
contain
and
containing
therapy
through
fight
destruction.
Pseudomonas
The
of
the
venom;
to
the
effects
aims
dextrose
maintain
body.
Broad-spectrum
of
neutralize
of
treatment
Corticosteroids
bacteria,
the
and
blood
venom
DMSO
volume
any
for
Gentacin
and
absorbed
antibiotics
snakebit
(a
potent
is
should
and
Skin
taken
anything
will
protection
that
leg.
slow
develops
and
in
the
down
else.
tissue
should
first
after
A
loss
hour
compression
be
pumping
aband
is
given
bite
following
managed
and
as
of
may
well.
wrap
the
aare
as
snakebite
horse’s
actually
Wrapping
will
ittime
would
limit
heart
reduce
will
the
be
aresearch
ultimately
in
severely
venom
and
any
the
limit
other
amount
to
swollen
the
do
the
traumatic
more
spread
immediate
of
leg
fibrous
for
of
the
case,
the
also
tissue
area.
outcome
venom.
but
limit
Reducing
formed
the
the
than
Tetanus
actions
edema
in
almost
activity
the
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