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  Discussion on Snake Bite
Author Message
Member:
Patricia

Posted on Sunday, Jan 14, 2007 - 9:06 pm:

A few months ago we moved from Maryland to Idaho.
While trail riding in Maryland I had only minimal concern about my horse being bitten by a snake, but I have been warned of rattlesnakes in this area.
During a recent visit to a local vet with my dog, I asked her about snake bite with regard to dogs and horses.
She told me that many of the people who ride in this area carry with them 2 four inch sections of garden hose to insert into the nasal passages of their horses if they are bitten on the nose, a common bite site. Because horses are obligatory nose breathers, the closing of the nasal passages is often a result of the inflamation process. She said that once the swelling subsides, the hose pieces will fall out.
Although the suggestion appears to have some logic, I wondered if you had ever heard of this, and if it has merit.
New Member:
Ctfontes

Posted on Sunday, Jan 14, 2007 - 10:01 pm:

I've experienced a snake bite on the nose. It was in 1990 when I had just aquired a 18 month old colt after not owning horses for about 15 years. My husband came back to the house after going out to feed my gelding. He told me that Raider's face looked swollen and there was a small tricle of blood running down his muzel. Even though I had only been "back into horses for a few months", I had purchased the book "Be your own veternarian sometimes" by Dr. Miller and had read about snake bites. This ocured on a Sunday evening and I had not established a relationship with a local vet. I took out the my book and in my adreline rush, re-read the chapter on snake bite and saw the reference about the cut off hose pieces. While waiting for a vet to arrive, I cut some garden hose and placed them inside my gelding's nostrils. They wouldn't stay in place, so I duct taped them into position with the help of his halter. Once the vet arrived, he let me know that it was too late to administer anti-venom and he simply gave a shot for swelling, infection and pain. The vet asked me about the garden hose pieces. I explained that I had read about using them in a book and he kindly educated me on how the hose pieces were useful. if the nostrils begin to swell and there is the potential for the nostrils swelling shut, then (and only then) should a person insert some hose pieces so that the nostrils can not swell shut and subsequently cut off air. (In this emergency situation, the hose pieces can provide an opening for air flow to continue.) The vet politely informed me that in my guy's case, the only thing I accomplised was a very irritated nasal passage (due to ridgid hose pieces being anchored up his nose!) In his case, the bite was a bit higher on his muzel, and even though his head swelled significantily, the nostril openings were never in danger. Needless to say, I was very embarrassed and feeling very guilty for causing my gelding undue discomfort.
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Sunday, Jan 14, 2007 - 11:23 pm:

What I take from this is that hoses should be carried for that low-down bite. I would rather be embarrassed than watch a horse suffocate in front of me. Thats a nasty image. I know many people carry anti-venom in their saddle bags. Rattle snakes will give a warning rattle and any good flight animal gets out the way quickly. Its the very young rattle snakes that are the problem, they tend to bite first and ask questions later. I know my horse is completely snake phobic and sees or imagines them way before any other living creature and I tend to find myself in a new zip code with no warning. If riders are along with me they do confirm that there was a snake that everyone else just sanely circumvented!
Member:
benbern

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 12:02 pm:

I recently heard of using injectable vitamin C for snake bites. Has anyone heard of that?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 - 9:17 am:

Leslie, what are we to expect from a dose of vitamin C? Though it's antioxidant properties can help any wound situation, usually the body has adequate stores. An insult like a venomous snake bites may tax the bodies stores but it is kind of like this: while water has a beneficial effect on putting out a fire, pouring a glass of water on a large house fire is near pointless. If you are standing there with the glass or water by all means throw it at the fire but I would not waster time getting a glass of water until after I have called the fire department.
DrO
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