Snake Bite

Hilldale Farm Llama Ranch

Located in Shingletown, California (Northern California)

Snakebite Treatment

If you suspect snakebite, CALL THE VET IMMEDIATELY - time is critical!! Once hit on the nose, the llama sneezes, snorts, shakes it's head, and if envenomated begins systemic symptoms within 1-3 hours or less. They will often get disoriented and collapse, fighting for air. Locate the bite site and note distance between fang marks. This may tell you what to expect for symptoms. If the distance between marks is wider, it may be an older snake with controlled or dry bite and you could be lucky and have fewer symptoms. If hit on other parts of the body, you will have swelling and some systemic symptoms as well. Nose bites seem the most common.

Keeping breathing passages open is of prime concern. Keep at least an 18 to 24 inch length of clear flexible 1/2 inch (3/8" diameter) tubing on hand to immediately insert up a nasal pasage if there are any signs of swelling around the face or difficulty breathing. It is a good idea to have your vet insert the tubing as it needs to pass through turbinates and into the trachea (not the esophagus - it will smell like rumen and not air exchanging if the tube is in the wrong spot). Then tape the tube up over the nose, between the eyes, ears and to back of the neck. It is easy then to check for air exchange without fussing with the face later.

Keep the animal calm. The more they move the more they circulate the venom.

A rattlesnake bite may or may not result in venom being injected into the lama. A dry bite will cause relatively few signs and may be overlooked. In some cases only one puncture wound is found, but clipping or shaving the skin adjacent to a wound may reveal another puncture. A dry bite can be treated like any other puncture wound, including cleaning the wound, flushing it with water or antiseptic solution, administering antibiotics if needed, and updating the tetanus vaccination if needed.

SIGNS OF RATTLESNAKE BITE:

1. Sudden onset of rapid swelling of the bitten area

* most common on the face

* can occur anywhere on the body

2. Other signs result from the effect of toxins contained in venom

* muscle breakdown and necrosis

* drop in blood pressure leading to weakness and collapse

* blood clotting problems leading to bleeding, including bleeding from puncture wounds, bloody saliva, blood in tears,

internal bleeding, and bleeding from the nose

* neurologic signs, such as convulsions and respiratory paralysis

* shock and collapse

* pain in the bitten area

3. Kidney failure as a result of muscle breakdown, bleeding in the kidneys and low blood pressure

EMERGENCY TREATMENT OF RATTLESNAKE BITE - CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN

1. Do not force bitten animal to move - this will increase the absorption of venom

* If you must move the animal, walk slowly to where you can administer care.

2. Cold water hosing or soaking of the affected area may decrease venom absorption and slow down swelling.

* DO NOT USE ICE OR ICE WATER as it will increase tissue destruction

3. Use a piece of flexible plastic tubing (3/8 inch diameter) inserted into each nostril to ensure an open airway in cases of

facial swelling.

* Use k-jelly to lubricate it as you advance it slowly along the nasal passage. Leave the tubing long enough to secure it to the face or ear with tape.

4. Use of drugs on a first aid basis is determined by the situation and your veterinarian.

* Antibiotics are frequently but are not usually necessary as an immediate first aid measure

* Multiple vials of antivenin are needed to counteract venom. Antivenin runs about $300+ per dose.

****DO NOT USE A TOURNIQUET FOR LEG BITE WOUNDS

**** DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CUT THE SKIN OR SUCTION OUT THE VENOM FROM THE PUNCTURE WOUNDS.

RATTLESNAKE FACTS

There are 16 different species of rattlesnakes in the U.S. and 8 in California.

Rattlesnakes are dangerous from birth.

Rattles grow each time they molt - up to 3 times a year.

25% of all snakebites are DRY bites.

Rattlesnakes can only strike at a distance equal to 1/2 of their body length.

Rattlesnakes rarely prowl in temperatures below 65 degrees.

Ideal temperature range is 80-90 degrees at ground level.

Rattlesnakes will soon die if it's temperature rises above 100 degrees.

Prime feeding time in warm weather is 2 hours before and after sunset when small mammals are on the move.