Hey guys. We were just walking our dog and my wife and he came right up on a copper head along the road. He struck as she pulled away but may have got our dog. We are looking him over right now but I did get something wet on my hand checking his leg.

What is the Aldeer thoughts if indeed he was bitten.

By the way, THIRD copperhead we have walked up on here the last two weeks. First two were doing the same. Right off edge of the road and will let you walk up on them. I jumped away from the ones near me both times but changed my drawers when I got home. I was shook up.

This one struck out then scurried off. The big old Fella of course is acting well but panting heavy. We are looking for signs of swelling but appreciate any advise.

Really just needs a vet if you think he got hit. Some people will tell about how their dog got bit and just got over it, but I wouldn't make that gamble if it were my dog. They have a nasty neuro toxin. I think you will know pretty quickly if he got tagged. Certainly if a lot of venom got in. Maybe shave the area and look for a bite. The dog may look dumb for a few weeks but at least you will know.

Go ahead and start with the Benadryl.

When my lab got hit by the cottonmouth it was almost instantaneous he became lethargic and had to carry him several hundred yards. Ears drooping, panting, etc…..

Ours got bit 4 times and pretty much immediately couldn’t walk started panting and leg and paw swollen real bad and oozing, you’ll know but Benadryl definitely and plenty of water. If you shave it and see swelling and oozing take the dog to the vet and they’ll give it a steroid I think is what they gave ours. They said a rattlesnake or water moccasin and it would have been deadly

He's probably panting because he senses y'all's nervousness. You think it was a snout or leg strike?
The good news is, even if he was struck, it's a good possibility of a dry bite.

Although panting after a walk in this humid weather is natural.

Benedryl for sure as precaution

X3

Thanks Yall. We appreciate all the advise. It seems my wife saw it just in the nick of time and jumped back yanking him back as well.

I saw it just after it struck at them and was headed back into the woods before I could shoot its sorry arse.

We have looked him over several times and cannot find any wounds though he was licking his one front leg.

No swelling and he has calmed down. Like Goodman said we might have freaked him out.

Our other dog was bitten twice by water mocs but took it well and we knew instantly. Bit her twice in the face with apparent wounds and swelling. She was in the vets 24 hours and back home.

They both have short hair but we couldnt see anything on him and he is eating right now so a good sign. We do have the Benadryl ready and have talked to a vet and if he shows signs we are headed there.

Appreciate it.

I told my wife ask aldeer and wed know what to do.

Thanks again yall.

One more thing though, how much Benadryl?

He is around 95 pounds.

95 milligrams is safe as a precaution, max of 171 @95lbs

Bacon grease on his food and force fluid’s pedialite or Gatorade. We’ve had our 7# wiener dog bitten by a juvenile rattler took her to vet immediately and a 3.5’ rattler dry bite never taken got meds from vet next day great vet. One cur bitten once by un known snake one bitten two different times by unknown snake and haven’t lost one yet. This is a bad time of year for us with snakes.

Yep, bacon grease will draw the venom out

Bacon grease, powder alum

You’ll know, the dog will start swelling where bit. Mine have always been bit on the face. After the 3rd trip the vet gave me a lot of prednisone and told me to make sure they have plenty of clean water and it’s cool where there at. They’re still making it.

Came home from work in 2005 and my chocolate lab was lying on the back deck. She was bit 6-7 times, all in the chest and front of legs. Vet told me since I couldn’t positively identify the snake, he said cool area, cool water, Benadryl and bacon grease on her food. We did all that and worried all night, she was in rough shape. That crazy dog was up and running the next morning like nothing happened. I found two dead copperheads behind the shed two days later.

Neighbor had a dog similar size got bit once a week later on the front of the chest and before he could even get the dog in the house, the dog passed.

Good,luck with your dog

Thanks Yall. Update is we watched and spoiled his lame arse all night and no problem. Hes been lounging on the couch, eating Ice Cream and playing us up.

Come 10 PM and he was up and barking at the door to go Cast Netting. I striper fish and every night around 10 to 1015 we head down and cast net some herring. He was letting me know. Just got back in and he is fine. No bite that we can find. And he is happy because we caught a passle. He is a boating, fishing, and deer tracking bad arse SOB.

Hes a quick son of a gun as that thing was right on he and my wife when he struck out. Id just walked past him but further away. They both were in the air and the snake too when I saw them out of the corner of my eye. Im just glad as heck neither got bit.

Appreciate all the info and my wife had me cut and paste it all " 49er " like and email her it.

If youve seen my pics from deer hunting or fishing you have seen the big guy in them. He goes everywhere with me and my wife , as everyone that knows us from here will tell you.
Like a 2nd kid so we were worried.

Again appreciate all your input. I told my wife you want to know what to do I go ask aldeer and there will be a ton of answers way before the darn vet calls us back. Thanks for proving me right.

Man good advice and my wife liked it.

He is part black faced mountain Cur and boxer. I am partial to black faced Mountain cur dogs for sure. Especially those Brindles like him and my old dog that he replaced. Great darn dogs, loyal and protective too. And great hunters.

And it is real bad this time of year. And this area of Smith Lake is loaded with those copperheads. We've seen three ran over on these roads too in the last 2 weeks.