SNAKEBITE!!!!

[BWSmith]

Just getting your attention [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] I am just curious how many people here (if any) have sustained an envenomation. Like John White said, when working with hots, it is not a matter if you get bit, it's a matter of when. So far (knock on wood) I have not sustained an envenomation or even a dry bite, although there have been some VERY close calls!
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	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[Extreme]

I am with you on this one. Luckily I have never been bit. I have had some heart stopping close calls. Good reason to have antivenom on hand. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[Ravnos]

Erm... I got tagged by my asian vine snake. Little redness, some unusual 'warmth' to the bite area, no other noticable effects. I have no intention of getting bit by anything worse. =)

Rav

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[mac136]

I took a bite in the foot from a rattler in CA while out looking for snakes, it burned like #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& for about 5min. Swelled up pretty good. I would compare it to a bad bee sting.Hospital visit consisted of blood pressure/temp check every 15min for 3-hrs then released w/o any treatment. they said most people do not drop dead from rattle snake bites and they only used the anti-venom when a bad reaction was present
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[BWSmith]

Sounds like a "dry bite" to me. THis is where little or no venom is actually injected. This tends to happen primarily when you startle a snake or step on it. Just don't bank on it that rattler bites are comparable to bee stings. But alot of people to recieve dry bites. The lucky ones do [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Here is a bite photo from the SHHS website (venomousreptiles.org)


Western Diamondback bite (Crotalus atrox)

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[Ed_r]

the severity of the bite depends on the species of rattlesnake. There are some that really don't inject allot of venom. Not all rattle snake dump venom like the eastern or western diamonbacks. some evolve eating easy prey to kill and the venom delivery system regulates the amount down.
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[BWSmith]

Good point, Ed, but even a Pygmy Rattler can rot off a finger [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] The severity of a bite involves several things: Snake Species, size, how much venom injected; victim size, health, and allergies; treament recieved, the list goes on and on. But as a general rule, there is going to be some tissue damage from a moderate to severe envenomation from any crotalid. Although I have seen some strange effects in the recent EDB bite. The symptoms were almost completely related to neurotoxins with very little tissue damage. This is scary that the rattlers are seemingly developing a venom more comparable to a cobra. But that is off the point [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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	Eastern Diamondback Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

	neurotoxin Neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins and ion channels.

[Ed_r]

Well BW I think I recall you saying something to the effect that EDBs from different locations have developed different toxins in the venom? This would make sense that same species from different ares would feed on different prey, thus need different toxins. Evolution in the making.
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	Eastern Diamondback Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

[Ravnos]

I know a guy who took a hit from a lepidus, and basically went on a 6 hour acid trip. No other effects. Another guy in W. TX this year was tagged by a molossus and went to the hospital where they administered antivenin, even though he had no outward signs of necrosis, no severe swelling, nothing. I just hope to god, if I ever do get tagged, that I'm conscious to set the #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& ems and doctors straight - so many, even ones in areas that deal with snakebites frequently, are clueless and probably do more harm than good.

On a side note, check this pic...

a bite from a monocle cobra - pic nicked from Venom Supply Ltd.

Rav

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[Ed_r]

Thought elapids had neurotoxin? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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	neurotoxin Neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins and ion channels.

[Boaguy]

I am never going to keep or mess with a hot! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

OHHH the pain.. that monocle bite looks like its HURTS REALY BAD!!
hmm.. what do they do to the foot when is like that???

Now i am afraid i am going to step on one on accident when herping for other herps [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

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[Ravnos]

Necrosis usually requires cutting away the dead skin completely. Quite frequently this will lead to a skin graft from another part of the body to fill in the big gap left. So basically instead of one big gaping painful wound, you end up with two. =) Not to mention antibiotic, antihistamine and antiinflammatory therapies... and possibly even more involved surgeries if muscle tissues and nerve tissues are damaged. A bite from almost any hot can hurt for the rest of your life if nerve damage is caused. Definitely something to think about. I'm certainly no medical expert on treating snakebites - but everything I've come across does not make it sound like a fun process in the least.

Rav
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[BWSmith]

I ran into a guy at the Hamburg show last year that took a hit off a Black Pakistan Cobra. After a'So how is the bite doing?" he held up 9 fingers! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] He said that he went ahead and had it amputated because the SMELL was keeping awake at night! Venom is one of the most complex compounds on the planet. You never know.
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[BWSmith]

Oh, yeah! The question was if anyone has been bit [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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[BadKarma]

Don't know that this counts but here you go anyway. I was at a round up a few years back. Yeah I know shame on you. I was young and dumb. Anyway I was like running to this den more or less and stepped over a big female western. She nailed the back of my leg just over the top of my cowboy boot. She got hung in my jeans and actually milked herself down the back of my leg. I was lucky in that she didn't brake the skin. I wasn't lucky in that I lost bladder control. Anyway she went free and I went to change my drawers.


Oh and one time at band camp...... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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[BWSmith]

You were collecting snakes for the roundup? I am assuming Sweetwater. As long as you have changed your wicked ways [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] The best pic I have seen in a while is another hot herper that went to the roundup to get pics and got a great shot of him whizzing ont he big sign for the roundup [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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[zero_point_one]

Just for the fun of it, but it really is serious. Brian kept comparing this to a snake bite.

Late last year/early this year, I was envenomated by a cat. I made the mistake of picking up my roommate's cat to throw he back inside when there was a stray dog on our front porch. She tore into my arm and ran off. After catching the cat, I stopped to look at my wounds. I had several puncture wounds and numerous scratches. I'd been handling cats for well over 15 years at this point and had my fair share of scratches, but nothing like this. I stopped the bleedings and bandaged the scratches (which covered most of my fore arm) and then made serval calls to get someone out to the house because it was starting to hurt. Several hours passed and it started to swell and after a while I could hardly bend my wrist. Serious infection was setting in. Brian kept offering to take me to the hospital, but I wanted to see if it would feel better in the morning. Stupid move. I couldn't even dress myself, so what made me think waiting would help.

Anyway, by the time I did make it to the doctor, the infection had made it's way up my entire arm and was working its way into my neck. They gave me really powerful antibiotics and told me that if they didn't start working after 24 hours to return and they would give me an IV. If that didn't work, they would have to hospitalize me. It started to clear after 24 hours, but I have a scar from every single scratch and puncture she laid into my arm.

Most people do not realize that a cat can kill you just by scratching or biting you. It's called Cat Scratch Fever. (OK, you can laugh now.) The bacteria in their nails and teeth gets into your system and, if untreated, can kill you.

As for actual snake bites: none.

Jessa
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[Extreme]

ROFLMAO!! Do they have any a/v for cat envenomations? maybe FelineFab? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[XzyluM]

I've been tagged by a Copperhead, not that bad, but it was a dry bite anyways. I've had some close calls with some rattlers though.
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[Ed_r]

Jessa I wouldn't really consider that envenomation. But thats wild though. All these years i thought Terrible Ted just made that up. I got bit on the lip by a garter snake, My lip swelled up like twice the size and bled for quite a while. Not exactly a 'Hot" but was not pleasant.
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