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« on: July 28, 2005, 08:41:39 pm »
I don't blame you and I feel the same way...can't stand them whatsoever. But, there is such a thing as a Bull Snake, that does produce a rattle, it does bite, but is NOT poisonous. If rattlesnakes are not indeginous to your area, it may be a bull snake. In Wisconsin, where I live, we have both rattelsnakes and bullsnakes. 2 years ago, Czar and Raisa found the rattlesnake and it lunged at Czar's rear. It missed him, but I got them both in the house ASAP, checked for bites, and I will say the snake was destroyed by my husband...of which I then took pictures. 2 weeks ago, a huge 6' bull snake appeared in our front drive way. We couldn't get close to it, and it was lunging at the shovel my husband was trying to kill it with, but it was too nasty, so he had to resort to other means. Once again, I took pictures. I can't and won't have those on the property whatsoever, it is too dangerous. But, I have talked extensively with my vet about what to do in case one of the dogs is bit. Most snake bites to dogs occur in the face, neck and head area. Keep the dog calm and quiet, try not to panic, call ahead to a vet, and get them there immediately. My vet indicated they also need the snake to prove it is a rattler, as if they provide the anti-venom to a dog that was bit by a non-poisonous bull snake, the anti-venom will kill the dog. So, in my mind, I am thinking...OK, so my 128 # dog gets bit. I have to then kill the snake, keep the dog calm; load the dog AND the dead snake into my truck and drive 45 minutes to the vet hospital with a bit dog and a dead snake in the truck? Not happening. So, the vet said, most rattlesnake bites are not treated by anti-venom, only by IV fluids, rest and some other drugs and have a high success rate of recovery. If you live in an area where it makes sense to have a pest control service search and remove the snakes, then go that route ASAP. Good luck, and do a little reasearch on where the anti-venom is kept in your area. In my area, it is only kept at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals in Madison and is very costly, but I would do whatever it takes to save any of my dogs should it ever happen.