Spring has sprung...

....and the rattlesnakes are back. All this rain has 'em moving again. My Catahoula (Bugsy) dog was bitten twice this afternoon. He survived the venom from a much larger rattler years ago, so this smaller one may not kill him but he sure will suffer for a while. His muzzle and the top of his head are swelling like a basketball. He usually hunts the neighborhood with "Hobie" (our Corgie/Dachsund mix) for squirrels, chipmunks, possums and the like. Apparently, when Hobie was snakebit last year, she didn't develop a fear of snakes, but rather a burning hatred. After seeing Bugsy in a bad way, I went to see what Hobie was barking at. When I got to her, she was snatching the snake around, shaking it, biting and backing off, the re-attacking. No need to shoot it, she had torn it to pieces.

Last time, Bugsy was the HeRo...this time it's Hobie. (or "the Hobester" as we call her.)

Little ones are the worst.   They haven't figured out how to modulate the venom.   Mature rattle snakes hit defensive bites with little venom injected.  The know the aren't going to eat it the don't waste venom on it.  If its edible its getting a lethal load.

kim wrote:Little ones are the worst.   They haven't figured out how to modulate the venom.   Mature rattle snakes hit defensive bites with little venom injected.  The know the aren't going to eat it the don't waste venom on it.  If its edible its getting a lethal load.

This one was about 2 ft. long, I guess. It's hard to tell without putting the pieces back together. Hobie was thorough.

Sorry Mav, hopefully all will be OK, do the dogs have anti-venom shots there?

Its the damn 1 button wonders that you need to worry about.  2 or 3 buttons or more to the rattle and your ok.   Got a female sharpie we just spent nearly 4k on
  Shes fighting a kidney thing.  So far still alive.  Was touch and go for 3 days.  Animal hospital and IVs.   We've had to give her two 600ml subcutaneous IVs for 5 days now.

Yeow, Kim. I'm a real dog lover. Obviously you are, too. Hope all goes well for her.

FalconEh wrote:Sorry Mav, hopefully all will be OK, do the dogs have anti-venom shots there?

I think an immunization shot has been developed, but I don't know how effective it is. The anti-venom shot for treating a bitten dog is $900 per dose here.

GOD DAMN! GO HOBIE!
PRAYERS FOR BUGSY.
Guys, you would not beleive theese dogs. When my Wife walked to the car, the boys had to escort her! They are so protective. I went out once and they stayed in. Go figure! LOL!

Bugs is healing nicely, Al. Swelling going down and got his appetite back. Thanks for the thoughts. Hobie's a real hero. And yeah, they do keep a watchful eye on their people. Especially at night. I have an escort everywhere I go whether I want it or not.

Great news, glad your dog is better.

FARM....TRUCK...... dog back at it and ready

gmsmkr wrote:FARM....TRUCK...... dog back at it and ready

Isn't Farmtruck's dog "Lucille"?

I can't remember what the name was but Chris said we can build a seat in the maverick for both dogs and farm truck won't have shit on you

gmsmkr wrote:I can't remember what the name was but Chris said we can build a seat in the maverick for both dogs and farm truck won't have shit on you

Won't happen...My dogs don't care for the race car. They'll hang around the garage with me all day, while I hammer, chopsaw, impact wrench, cuss...until they hear the electric fuel pump. That tells 'em that the noisy sumbitch is about to start and they go to the house. Race dogs they ain't.