But he will live. Watch out. My daughter's dog was nailed by a cottonmouth yesterday. He'll be OK but he ain't happy. She opened the back door and the dog ran out, snake was waiting by the steps, nailed him, daughter bashed snake's head in with a shovel. Four feet long classic cottonmouth. The is rural St John's county Fl. They back up to a swampy nature preserve. Seems they have been feeding the cute deer corn too close to the house. That brought in mice, they brought in the cottonmouth. $900 vet bill.