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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by MasterSgt on August 27, 2006
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Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I killed a snake. A two-foot-plus copperhead bit one of our rescue dogs within six feet of our front door, and we just held it down for a few minutes with a broom, considered the options, and then dispatched it quickly and started first aid on the dog ... 1000mg of Keflex and 50mg of Benadryl, and 36 hrs later her muzzle is still swollen, throat area is pouchy, but she's doing pretty well.
We'd often talked about what to do about copperheads and Black wiodows, both of which occur here (rural Fredericksburg VA), and decided to leave them alone as long as they weren't near the house or poultry house, or the kennel. Actually, it's been almost 20 yrs since we've seen one, probably due to the black rat snakes and Northern Water Snakes we encourage, and even import from other farms when possible.
I admit to feeling bad about killing the copperhead, but now that I have serious leg infection and circulation problems in my legs, due to diabetes, even a minor bite from a copperhead could easily lead to amputation or swelling & circulatory problems added on to the already severe problems I have. The last bad infection landed me in the hospital for a month and three more hideous months in bed, endurable only by large doses of morphine.
Relocation? WHere? Pick some random farmer and pass the problem on? Animal Wardens kill them in our area, so I did what I did. I know all the idealistic arguments, since I've used them myself, but having a healthy appreciation for what a bite can do to a healthy adult, I'm unwilling anymore to take the risk in my shape, at age 60.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by gerry on August 28, 2006
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Since there seems to be some interest in long term effects, here's the report on my son 1 year after his copperhead bite. To refresh, it occurred in july 2005, he was bit while playing at a party. There was no treatment administered. The bruising took about 2 months to completely dissipate. He did have a hard lump the size of a golfball that remained for well over 6 months. He is playing soccer and has found he tends to pull muscles easily in that leg. No general physical problems. Good luck
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by Scott7590 on August 28, 2006
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Hi MasterSgt,
Don't feel badly about killing the copperhead.
I have a problem with people who hike deep into the woods, far from their homes (or any homes at all), looking for snakes to kill. That's not what you did.
Yes, the snakes were there first, and relocation sounds like a great idea. But we don't sell our homes and move when a snake moves in, and relocation is not always an option (particularly in your case). No one can reasonably expect you to capture and relocate a copperhead and, in the process, risk your health and life. Besides, if you relocate the snake to an area that is not its natural home, it may not survive.
You did what you had to do and I don't see how anyone can fault you for that.
Regards,
Scott
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by MasterSgt on August 28, 2006
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Thanks, Scott. I appreciate your support. We’ve kicked it around ever since then, my wife feeling particularly guilty, and just in case this comes up again I’m going to contact a guy I met years ago who breeds a lot of reptiles. I don’t think I’d want to pass a hot snake to some hobbyist I don’t know a great deal about, but there may be some local wildlife or State Agriculture place that might give a copperhead a good home. I’ve seen them, I believe in a couple of County Park centers up in Fairfax, and I know in Florida there were a couple of park service places that had hot snakes to amuse the tourists. If I can work it out that way, I can probably figure out a plan for humanely snatching the next one and doing something different.
Update on the copperhead bite to my dog two days ago;
We suspect it was a nearly ‘dry’ bite because of her quick recovery. The swelling is reduced at the site; her lethargic, miserable feeling is much improved; her appetite & water intake are nearly normal. The overall joint stiffness seems to have largely dissipated, and she’s anxious to go out to hunt rats & mice again. She is noticeably careful of the area in the yard where she was bit, repeatedly visiting the site and sniffing it.
After looking over my initial post, and being somewhat surprised at not being flamed for killing the copperhead, I notice that I failed to mention one item. The copperhead was, I believe, a goner already because of the damage done by the dog, a small terrier mix (55 lb) who probably instigated the attack when she grabbed and shook the copperhead. He (I assume male only because of the old, and admittedly unreliable,‘long tail’ rule) had a somewhat ragged two-inch rip midway down his back, and hadn’t moved from the spot as we held a flashlight on him for five minutes or so while looking for some way of securing him.
We’ve taken a number of Black Rat Snakes and Blacksnakes to knowledgeable herp people and one pro bono wildlife vet after they’ve wandered into a kennel or dog yard, and thus far zero have survived even when the apparent surface wound didn’t look very bad. Our assumption is that it’s the shaking that does the real damage, much like it is for kittens who get shaken. So far, zero recovery on them either, even when there is absolutely no surface wound visible.
Several thoughts have occurred as we mulled over this first sighting of a copperhead in twenty-plus years. We are in near-drought conditions locally, and since we water the front yard (where the bite occurred) and its flower gardens, and keep lots of fresh water available in the poultry pens and dog yards, perhaps the moist conditions have drawn the copperhead’s prey closer to us. Still, we’ve had a couple of bad droughts over the past dozen years and no sightings until now, and considering that there are almost always a few dogs roaming around during the day, one would expect some dog-snake confrontations by now if there were copperheads here in any number at all. I spook at least one or two garden-variety snakes every time I mow or bush-hog eight acres, and thus far all have been obviously blackish color with an occasional ‘chain link’ marking. A copperhead would be hard to miss.
Another aspect of our situation is that we’ve altered the environment a lot by closing the kennel and moving the last few old, retired dogs inside. We’ve also cut our poultry down by 80% or so, more or less in anticipation of the bird flu virus becoming a problem at some point. When things get ugly, and I suspect they will at some point, I don’t want to have any unnecessary human contact with poultry, and no feeders that will attract the amount of wild migratory birds we see here. Since we have stopped all poultry breeding by separation and breaking eggs, there aren’t the large numbers of chicks and ducklings wandering around to feed the snakes and hawks as in past years.
All this has of course also altered the mouse, rat and bird prey that all these snakes have had available thus far, which may be encouraging the up-until-now rare copperheads to come back, though it gets a bit murky trying to sort out the competing biological drives here. I'm still trying to figure out why Mother Nature is out to get me lately ... we've always had a few very small Black Widows around, but don't bother them and just remember to wear gloves when picking through the stacks of cinder blocks. Last week, however, my wife dragged in a female the size of a soccer ball. Well, actually the size of a marble, but huge in comparison with every other female we've seen. My wife was bitten by a Brown Recluse a few years ago, but the pain and swelling wasn't bad enough to go to war over it.
And of course as I’ve been mulling this crappy situation over the past two days, I’m nursing two tiny scratches on my ankle that have become infected and are not responding well to my usual Dakin’s Solution treatment the past two weeks, so tomorrow I go in for another course of damned antibiotics. Which unfortunately only reinforces my absolute convicton that I can under no circumstances take a chance on getting bitten by a hot snake. The tissue loss I’ve already had from a particularly deep infection five years ago makes me look like I’ve already been bitten by a good-sized pit viper. Several doctors have asked me if that was from snakebite, but actually it was just from bad medical care. But nonetheless, having the necrotic tissue debrided thrice weekly is a pretty horrible way to live, regardless of the cause, and I’m somewhat maniacal about not risking the few limbs I was born with. Morphine is fun when you’re 20, but it holds little interest for me anymore.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by TinaM on August 31, 2006
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I got bit by a copperhead on Aug 15,2006. It bit me on my right ankle. The pain and swelling lasted about a week. I received the new antevenom made from sheep which made me sick. I have had more problems with nausea, extreme thirst and being tired than anything. It has been over 2 weeks and I have been told I may have PTSD. I am still dehydrated, thirsty and tired.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by Caro on October 15, 2006
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Teri,
I too was bitten on the foot this past summer on the 4th of July. My foot still aches and I cannot wear some types of shoes.
Oh my gosh! Does your foot and leg still hurt after all this time? Oh no.
People have NO idea of what a snake bite entails do they? Is your leg and foot any better now?
Cary
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by Caro on October 15, 2006
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How is your foot and leg now? I just subscribed to this site as you cannot get any information from docotrs at all.
I was bitten on 4th of July, 2006 by a large adult copperhead. My husband and I were moving our grill and of course I was wearing flip flops. I spent one night in the hospital and did not have to have the anti-venom. I was so glad as they say that is very hard on the patient. I couldn't imagine it getting worse!
My foot still aches and I cannot wear certain types of shoes. I know your post was a while ago....can you tell me how you are doing now?
Thanks,
Cary in Arkansas
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by chrisb on October 16, 2006
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A follow up on my July 1, 2006 copperhead bite... I spent 12 days on crutches before I could walk, with the first 7 being a burn I cannot decribe other than being on fire. When I could tolerate having my thigh other than elevated, it took about another week to walk without the crutches. The swelling lasted for at least 7 weeks, and I couldn't fit into any shoes for at least 6 weeks. I wore sandals for 2 full months. I do not have any lingering affects today. I wish all that encounter the same ordeal to keep up your spirits. I feel I was lucky. It wasn't comforting to know the medical community does not have much experience in copperhead bites.
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Copperhead Bite
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by goobettesmith on July 19, 2007
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Hello, I am new to the site and I am looking for some information on the after effects of the anti vemom and a copperhead snake bite.
My mother-in-law got bit on the top of her foot twice about three-four weeks ago. we went to St. Johns hospital and they gave her anti venom, well she is able to get around on it and is working again but ever since she had pain in and around her kidneys. we were wondering if anyone else who has had the anti-vemon has experienced anything like that, she never did get sick( they gave her some stuff to keep her from getting nausated)
Please get back to me. Thank you
Southern Missouri
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by fredssister on August 21, 2007
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my brother was bitten by a copperhead May 1, 2007. He was treated immediately, no anti-venom was required. After about three weeks of severe swelling and pain from his knee down; bite was on the foot, he developed an extremely itchy rash on his lower legs and buttocks. As of this date 8-21-07, numerous visits to doctors, several rounds of varied drugs the itchy rash pretty much covers his body. It is virtually impossible to not comply with the old saying "if it itches, scratch it". Could there be a connection? His dermatologist don't know. and so far I have been unable to Google even a remote clue. This is not a really active site so I just hope we can learn something. Good luck to your mother in law.
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