snake or spider bite? photos

[zyppi]

Yes, Lauri - that picture looks a lot like Jack's leg.

My vet did a battery of tests after steroid shots and antibiotics.

Jack is better today. Swelling down a lot except for 'ankle' where vet expected it to settle for a while. He obviously feels like himself again and it's hard to keep him quiet.

My vet is also leaning toward the snake bite theory and said you don't always see the site of the puncture.

I've never seen a snake in my yard but I have about an acre and one could easily lurk under plants or ground cover. Thinking seriously of getting rid of any ground cover type plants. I know friends who won't have ivy because it's a haven for snaked.

You're right, Louisiana has every poisonous snake indigenous to the North American continent. Can you hear me scream I hate snakes! I know they have their place, but growing up here, I just think 'bad bite.' Truth be told, I'm not rational about things with no legs.

I do appreciate all of your concern, and judging from photos and information you've shared, it's good to pass these things along just in case others have a similar problem

FYI, from a friend who was bitten, seems antibiotics and steroids are the treatment of choice. Of course, if you can catch/kill the snake, there may be an appropriate antitoxin that should be administered.

[Courtney]

Thanks for the update. Glad Jack is feeling even better today! He deserves a nice cut of beef after this whole ordeal

My very southern grandpa use to say there are only two kinds of snakes he didn't like "live ones & dead ones". lol

[dekisha]

It can be so dangerous i know because i suffered brown recluse spider bite on my vocation..
i was in texas at my uncles home and spider bites me.
In first time i didn't know that was spider bite. After few hours pain was horrible and i decided to go to explore on internet some about spider bites.
Informations and pictures was telling to me that was really spider bite. I called 911 and went to hospital.
Doktor sad to me that brown recluse spider is so dangerous spider that can produce anputation, i was shocked!
That's my story people. I'm hoping i will help someone if read this and learn more about bites..
Sorry about mine bad english, i'm from bulgaria.

[jetscarbie]

aww, the joys of Louisiana living. Snakes.

My husband's dog looked just like that after getting bit by a water moccasin.

It took two days before we seen were the snake bit him at. Where the snake bit him was the one spot that wasn't swollen up. It was around the spot that swelled up.

I don't know about spider bites.

[Zisso]

That looks so painful! I am glad that Jack seems to feel better and hope he will continue to recover.

I work in the construction industry in WA state. Not a place one would expect to get bitten by anything serious. But several years ago, I did. At first I thought I got stung by a bee-probably a yellow jacket. Hurt like crazy.

About an hour later, when I finally had the chance to check, it was swollen to about the size of a quarter. A few hours later, it was about the size of a lemon. By the end of the day, it was the size of a grapefruit. Extremely sore and warm to the touch.

I took Benedryl that night and in the morning, expecting it to be better, all I could see was the swelling and bruising. Still about the size of a grapefruit. Went to the Dr. and it was a spider bite. We could even see the punctures from the spider! So Doc gave me prescription antihistamines and an ointment to apply to draw the poison out. It took about two weeks for it to really feel better. During that time, it was painful to stand, walk, or even sit.

I feel for Jack -

[GSD07]

Zisso, I had the same looking bite, and I bet it was the same kind of spider since I'm in WA! I had exactly the symptoms you describe, and it took forever the bruising, redness, and swelling to go away completely, probably a couple of months. Did your doc had an idea what spider it could be?

[Josie/Zeus]

Oh my God! How horrible, poor baby!!

I would pass out if I see that on Koda.

[LisaT]

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