From: saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belzowski (K-9's))
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Snakes and Dogs
Date: 16 Apr 92 18:40:44 GMT
Organization: Purdue University

In article <1992Apr16.152026.23301@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> eam9e@uvacs.cs.Virginia.EDU (Ann Myers) writes:
>
>  
>   My boyfriend recently moved to Boulder, CO, and he has seen 
>a couple of snakes at Boulder Reservoir.  As far as he could
>tell, they weren't rattlers and someone in Boulder told him that
>they might have been coppperheads.  He had a pretty bad scare
>yesterday when his dog went after some movement in the bushes
>and it turned out to be a pretty large snake. So, I thought
>I would appeal to the collective wisdom of the net for info.
>
>   Does anyone know what kinds of snakes are prevalent in Colorado,
>   particularly around Boulder?  Has anyone had their dog bitten
>   by a snake? In Colorado?
>

I visited CO about 8 years ago.  On a tour, we were told repeatedly
not to wander off the boardwalks because rattle snakes are very
common in the brush.  Usualy snakes won't bother you, but if you walk
up on them or step on them, your asking for it.  Dogs don't
relized this so they usually do charge up on them or grab them.
Many dogs grab snakes and shake them like crazy, but they can get
bit doing this.



>   What do you do when your dog is bitten by a snake?  Is there
>   a snake kit for dogs? 
> 

Yes, I believe there is in the RC Steele catalog, or probably local
vets will have some if rattlers are common in the area.

>   Our dogs are too big to carry, so is it better to keep them
>   immobile until someone comes looking for you (we always keep
>   track of how long the other person is gone walking the dogs),
>   or is it better to walk the dog back and get to the vet faster?
>

With all snake bite victoms it is better not to allow any activity.
If the venom is in the blood stream, vigorus walking will spread it
quicker through the body.  Rattlesnake venoms work on the nervouse
system or muscles (I can remember right now) so activity will
just spead it faster to the heart and brain.  It is better to
keep them still and quiet.  Also, I believe I read in a DogWorld
once about how to snake proof your dog.  This is one of the
ONLY reasons I would use an electric shock collar.  The
main idea was to find either a dead or a de-fanged rattler.
Hide it in a bush and then put the electric collar on your dog.
allow the dog to rush up and grab at the snake.  The instant they
grab it or step at it, you give them a good shock with the collar.
Don't say anything.  Make the dog think the cause of their pain is
the snake and they will learn snakes are nasty things not to be
touched.  You'll probbly only have to do this once or twice.

I think it would be preferable to my dogs to get a few uncomfortable
shocks then to get poisoned by a snake bite.

>Any info on dogs and snakes would be much appreciated.
>
>-Ann

I wish I could remember the date of that Dog World, but it had
many other bits of good info about snakes and dogs.

Hope this helps.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Marla Belzowski   saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Mauii Nikki Belzowski CD CGC TDI CERF
Brittish Legend of Beowulf (1leg CD) CGC TDI CERF  tri-color collies