Guess it had to happen

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Don
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Guess it had to happen

Post by Don » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:44 pm

Snake bite! Squirt got bit Sunday afternoon. For well over 20 yrs, close to 30, I have hunted, lived, trained and trialed in central and eastern Ore. I have never had a dog bit before nor do I know anyone that has except an old trialing friend many years ago. His dog got bit on a winter training trip in Arizona.

I was letting both boys run while I was working on our city water well. Bodie came in but Squirt didn't. Waited for him for awhile then took Bodie home and went back to look for Squirt. By then he was back at the well and looking beat and limping a bit. I looked him over and could find no blood so figured he'd sprained a leg. That evening I went to take them out to go and his leg was swelling. I thought it might have gotten broken or fractured. I got a hold of it and messed with it but nothing felt broken an he didn't fuss like it hurt. This morning his leg was swollen up to a bit over twice its normal size so I got him in the car and off to the vet. Actually he heard the car start and came out on his own and got in.

At the vet, they weren't sure if it was a spider or a snake right away but the gave him some anti inflammatories for the swelling and took his temp; 105! He hadn't eaten yesterday and I don't rec all him drinking but they free feed and rink in the kitchen. They had to hook up an IV and pump fluid into him. Them they looked all over the leg and found the bite on his ankle. I left the office at 9am and hes still there on the IV, have to check back after three to see if he can come home tonight.

I mentioned spider bite. I did not know it but the vet told me we have a few spiders here that can do the same thing to a dog. I didn't ask what but guess it would be a Brown Recluse.
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WiskeyJaR
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by WiskeyJaR » Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:04 pm

Don, sorry to hear man :( Will be keeping Squirt in me thoughts for a quick and safe recovery.

J.R.

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LEGLIFTER
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by LEGLIFTER » Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:42 pm

WiskeyJaR wrote:Don, sorry to hear man :( Will be keeping Squirt in me thoughts for a quick and safe recovery.

J.R.
Ditto. Really hope the dog comes through okay.

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by Elroy's Bandit » Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:09 pm

Good luck with your Squirt, hope everything works out OK for him. Obviuosly the snake was venemous, but is this something which could cause siezures, or worse? or is it a realatively common thing in some areas? Sounds quite scary to me. Good luck with Squirts recovery.
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by romeo212000 » Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:15 pm

Sorry to hear that man. I will be keeping him in my thoughts. I have had some pretty scary moments with mine too. They never get any easier.

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by ezzy333 » Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:40 pm

Sounds like it will be OK after that much time and getting the anti-inflammatory and the IV into him. Keep us posted. Will be thinking of you all and saying a little prayer.

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Nebraska
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by Nebraska » Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:55 pm

That's some tough news. :( Dogs are resilient as heck and he's in good hands now......

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Don
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by Don » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:07 pm

Picked him up this afternoon and got him home about 5:30. Swelling hasn't gone down much but fever down quite a bit. Not normal yet tho. They sent him home with two drugs, 10 day supply. Took these photos when we got home.

Image

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This last photo shows swelling went all the way up to his shoulder.

Image

They found the bite in his ankle so my guess is he didn't know the snake was there. If he'd been bothering it, he'd probably have been bitten in the face or neck. That may well have killed him.
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by vern3 » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:19 pm

Sorry for the bad luck. Hoping for a quick recovery

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by WiskeyJaR » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:38 pm

Glad to hear Squirts gonna be ok. :) Here's to hoping he'll be up and running soon.

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by R-Heaton » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:55 pm

Nice looking setter,,, whats his breeding?

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by Kiki's Mom » Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:58 pm

Oh poor Squirt! here's hoping he back to being fine as a fiddle in no time, Don! Lucky dog....could have been much worse.

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Don
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by Don » Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:37 pm

R-Heaton wrote:Nice looking setter,,, whats his breeding?
He's Tekoa Mt/Smith breeding. Here he is in better times!

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by slistoe » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:27 pm

Squirt is a fine looking dog and it looks like he is on his way to having a fine season.

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kninebirddog
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by kninebirddog » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:31 pm

Wow Don Sorry to hear that

it is amazing what a scrape wih just residual venom can do on the swelling dept and yes for a couple days make them not so happy dogs

Sound like a run by dry bite

What do the marks where the bite hit look like?

hopefully they are small as if it was just residual he may luck out and only get some minimal long term scaring

worse thing is secondary infection but I am betting some of those pills you got sent home with are serious antibiotics

Poor Squirt Keep us posted
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by GSP 4 me » Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:55 am

Wow, that is one tough dog! Sorry to hear about the whole incident, but I'm very glad that it wasn't worse. Do you think it was a rattlesnake bite?

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by Ruffshooter » Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:47 am

Don, Sorry Squirt and you are going through this. Glad he is on the mend and will be okay. Will there be any long term affects? Squirt is a handsome looking setter.
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by Maverick » Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:25 am

Sorry to hear about Squirt Don , but it sounds like he is on the mend.
I hope he has a quick recovery and is out and back into birds with you soon.

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by midwestfisherman » Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:03 pm

Sorry to hear about Squirt. I hope he has a quick recovery.
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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by highcotton » Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:38 pm

Glad to hear Squirt is mending.

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Re: Guess it had to happen

Post by CherrystoneWeims » Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:31 pm

Don,

I'm glad to hear that Squirt is doing better!

He is a handsome dog! I had the pleasure of going to watch their trial at Smith Setters last year. The place isn't too far from me. Only about a 2.5 hr drive. What a GORGEOUS place. Perfect for a trial.
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