Hope for a speedy recovery. Last year at my clinic we treated over 1k snakebites. You could visibly tell the ones that were bit by a rattler vs moccasin or copperhead those dogs were SICK.
Remember guys every snakebite is different and not every one gets a large dose of venom. Most copperhead victims usually respond well with old timey recipe of steroids, pain meds and antibiotics.
Moccasin usually 50% of those guys need aggressive care.
It's a general rule we'll play by ear on antivenom administration if owner can identify the snake..but if we know it's a rattler we always push for antivenom..if your dog got a full load it does some nasty nasty skit,
Renal failure was already touched on by one member. Saw one dog that was bit in the butt, owner absolutely refused antivenom cuz ole doc never gave it..Lab values off the charts already brushing the size of a basketball at presentation...made them sign an AMA..it was sickening watching the dog deteriorate overnight, when better treatment was available.
Next morning when owners came to visit dog was lateral and non-responsive ..we picked the dog up to move him for owners to visit and all of the skin from the ribs back fell off ...
If it was my dog ..he would be getting at least 1 vial of antivenin..some of these guys unfortunately need 3-4 bags.
All that being said when my 10 year old was bit by a copperhead, we did the wait and see routine, steroids..4 years later she's still doing fine..but i cant emphasize enough not to play around with rattlers
