Snake Away

Something happened this weekend that I would have never dreamed would happen in my backyard. Our little dog, Amos, was bit by a rattlesnake!! I am so shocked and upset. The scary thing is we were having a little birthday party for Kate and Wade, so we had about a dozen kids in our backyard where the snake was. We are just so thankful the kids were not bitten.

From what we can figure Amos was bitten around ten o'clock in the morning. Chris brought him in to have me look at his paw. We thought he had a sticker in it because he was not using it. I could not find a sticker, so we put him in his cage because the party was starting. He stayed in his cage most of the day. He never asked to come out. Steve had checked on him because he was not asking to be let out. He just looked at him and laid his head back down. We did not see his leg or paw because he was not facing us. A while later Amos finally barked so Steve let him out. His arm and paw were very swollen. We called the vet. The vet did not answer, so we left a message. We gave Amos some benedryl and tylenol and put him back to bed. The vet did not call us back. After a few hours, I called the emergency number on the vets machine. I called the emergency vet clinic. The vet tech told me it sounded like a snake bite, and we would need to bring him in. Amos's chest had started to swell up too.

Sure enough the vet confirmed it was a snake bite, A RATTLESNAKE BITE!!! I was in denial. How could a snake be in our backyard? We live in a neighborhood. We had a yard full of kids back there all day.

Amos was given some anti-venom, steroids, antibiotics, and a cone collar. The vets main concern was trying to save his leg. The snake bite can cause lots of tissue damage and open wounds. The loss of his leg is a strong possibility. We brought him home not knowing how the night would go. The vet felt like he would not die because he was still alive after twelve hours of being bit. He was so swollen and miserable. He made it through the night. He ate this morning and we gave him his many meds. Chris and Beau could not wait to get out in the yard this morning to kill them a snake. They searched the whole yard but came up empty handed.

This afternoon Amos got up and hobbled to the back door and wanted out. I took him out and helped him get a drink. While he was doing his business I started looking around where Chris and Beau had moved all the toys off the porch. I looked between the dog house and chimney right up next to the house. I thought I could see a snake, but it was pretty dark back there so I was not sure. I went to get Chris to see if he could see anything. He confirmed that it looked like a snake. I promptly went inside. Chris went and put his boots and jeans on. He went out and moved the dog house and all the leaves and dirt behind the dog house. Sure enough the snake was curled up sleeping back there. Chris was even brave enough to take pictures.

He killed it with a shovel!!! Chris is my hero!!! I just HATE snakes!!!
It was a baby rattlesnake.
It was a foot or so long with just one row of rattles.
Here is a picture of the bite on Amos's paw. We are choosing to believe that our Amos bravely took a snake bite to protect all the kids that were in the backyard. That may not be the case, but that is how we will remember it.
Here he is in his "cone of shame." Poor little dog he really hates the cone. He keeps running into things and getting stuck because the cone hangs on everything.

There is nothing funny about this whole thing....but there is just something funny about a dog that has to wear a cone collar.
Amos seems to be doing much better this evening. I think the swelling in his paw has even went down some. He has spent the day relaxing in the chair with us. Tonight he even jumped on the couch with his cone collar on. I pray he continues to heal with no permanent damage to his little leg and paw.

Our backyard is a little safer today, but I keep worrying that if there is one there could be more...pretty scary!!