Moccasin Bite Research Paper

How dangerous can a rattlesnake or moccasin bite really be for a dog? Rattlesnakes and cotton mouths, which are also known as moccasins, are very common in the Southern region of the United States. Both are highly venomous snakes, and can cause humans and animals many health issues, and have the ability to kill them. It can be a challenge to recognize these snakes from other snakes found in this region, and they love to bask in the sun when it’s warm outside. Unfortunately for pet owners living in areas such as South Georgia, these snakes are the most active when it is warm outside, and it’s almost snake season all year long. The venom from a rattle snake is toxic to animal’s blood. Both rattlesnakes and moccasins are part of the pit viper …show more content…
Larger animals have a better survival rate and also don’t get affected by the venom as quickly as small animals because they have more fatty cells to absorb it, which makes it take longer to spread, whereas small dogs don’t have much body fat usually so the venom affects them much quicker. When a rattlesnake bites your animal, the venom makes their blood vessels start swelling. After they swell for a short period of time, it begins to cause tissue damage to those regions because there isn’t a good blood circulation anymore due to it being swollen. The venom is toxic enough to cause your pet to lose their clotting factors in their blood which will cause them to bleed uncontrollably until they die. There is a chance that the animal will have disrupted breathing and impaired vison when they’re bitten in the face. There are vaccines that can help protect your dog against snake venom. Unlike most people think, this vaccine does not protect them from all effects of the venom, but it will increase their chances of survival if they do get bitten. After speaking with the on call veterinarian (Dr. Kidd) for the Cairo Animal Hospital, the suggested treatment for a venomous snake bite would depend on the severity of the bite. If the animal has a high enough survival rate and the bite isn’t over an hour old, they might tell them about the antivenin, but also warn about the high cost. …show more content…
They don’t usually attack unless they feel threatened. The symptoms of a moccasin bite are much quicker in action than other venomous snake bites. The first things the animal will go through are pain, bleeding uncontrollably, difficulty breathing, inflammation, lethargy, and numbness. If the client notices that the pet has a puncture wound of any type, or there is suspected to have been a bite, the pet should receive medical attention immediately! Treatment for a moccasin bite is the same as that of the rattlesnake. It requires fluid therapy, treating for shock, and antibiotics. The chances of survival for an animal bitten by a moccasin are higher than one bitten by a