Douglas was out of a litter bred by my grandson Austin. The sire is our boy Jackson, bred to a female that we gave our grandson. Doug's mother is out of Scout and a female from a friend in Wyoming. She was the pick of the litter. The grandmother is a very nice hunting dog. We were not going to keep Douglas but he was bit by a rattlesnake. You can see the story below. Doug has proven to be a very nice young dogs. He loves to retrieve in or out of the water, loves to go on hunting outings, has a good loving meaner about him and is off to a good start.
What I and Doug a 12 week old puppy went through after Doug was bitten by a rattlesnake. July 14, 2022 at approx. 7:05 pm. I had been keeping the dogs in the smaller yard because there was a rattlesnake somewhere on the bigger 10 acres. I knew the snake was there because a week earlier Dux had been bitten. He recovered quickly but he was an adult dog.
The Gang had only been out a few minutes when they were called back. I needed a photo of the young dog for Jim in Wyoming. Jim had 5 generations of GSPs with Onyx Vom Zubsgof lines. Doug's GGG Grandfather on the mother's side was Onyx. A long way out, but Jim had lost a full brother to Doug's mom.
I asked Scarlett to find him so I could get a photo. Doug was already back at the trailer when she yelled that he had been bitten by a rattlesnake. Sure enough his face was just starting to swell, and he had a drop of blood toward the end of his nose, and clear fang marks.
Hailey checks the rest of the dogs and all the puppies and found that no one else had been bitten. Doug had been brought into the trailer and both Scarlett and Hailey tended to him. First a prayer from Scarlett and I, and then 3 tablespoons of Benadryl. Hailey took a special interest in him for the next few hours until bedtime, and then Doug would sleep with me. Doug's head was already pretty swollen, also it was painful for him and if his head was touched, or if he laid it down in the wrong place he would cry.
Doug slept through the night next to me with little movement. I however was having a pretty hard time. The snake bite caused me sadness, self-dougt, and a lot of second guessing. I was mad and upset because I had let the dogs out before finding the rattlesnake, also because I was somewhere once again where there were rattlesnakes, but it went beyond that, I simple had to many irons in the fire and was spread way to thin. Kim was taking care of her dad, I had the girls and dogs, it's hot, I don't have a very good set up here, most of our stuff was in Arizona, maybe I should be somewhere cooler. The fact is I was pissed and wanted to quit. Maybe I should get rid of most of the dogs so this did not happen anymore. Doug would make the 27th dog bitten by a rattlesnake to the best of my recollections. I had woken up through the night a dozen times to check on Doug.
At 5am 7-15-22, 10 hours after Doug was bitten he wanted up. He was standing at the end of the bed. I was glad to see that he was able to stand and was not paralyzed. Doug drank quite a bit of water and ate a little food. He then peed and went to sleep on the floor. He would cry if we left him alone. More Benadryl, and some pain pills. Hailey gave him some Amoxicillin but I told her that was for secondary infections and I did not think he needed it. I was pleased that she was trying.
Water and sleep was the order of the first part of the day. Doug's head was very swollen, there did seem to be less pain in the face. Most often dogs bitten do not show pain like a person, but Doug's face was painful to the touch for him. The girls had bike racing so we left around 2pm and took Doug with us. Doug slept on Hailey's lap, and continued to drink water and sleep the rest of the day. He was bleeding from the area of the snake bite and his lips were even more swollen.
I felt a little more in control, but I knew for the time being that things were not going to get easier. I would need to return to Arizona to deliver puppies, and for a time try and juggle our lives, and our situations. The night of the 15th Doug the 12 week old swollen headed shorthair puppy would once again sleep next to me. He would sleep well, his head would remain swollen, and I would worry through the night for him.
Both Doug and I would sleep in until 7am. This would be the 36 hour mark. 36 hours after Doug being bitten by a rattlesnake. His head would remain very swollen and more swelling had even moved onto the back of his neck. I carried Doug to the water on the floor and held the water up to him to help him drink. He drank deeply through very swollen eyes. I left him to attend to some work, and figured he would lay down on the floor. However he was able to climb the steps back up on my bed, where I found him fast asleep. He would repeat this same feat at noon. I was truly impressed by his ability to get back up on the bed, not so much that he wants to sleep on my side.
It's 3pm on the 16th, it's been 44 hours since Doug was bitten by the viper. He is sleeping of course on my side of the bed, when I checked on him and talked to him he moved around to more comfortable position. His head remains very swollen, his lips are swollen as well as the back of his neck and below his neck. He is breathing well and all signs look good for a full recovery. I remain sympathetic toward this little guy.
7-16-22 at 7pm, 48 hour mark. Doug's swelling is down quite a bit on the right side of the face, however the left side remains somewhat swollen. It would appear that Doug may have been bitten two or three times around the same spot on the front left side of his nose. The skin is an open wound at these sights and may not heal for a while, and scarring is most likely. Doug ate a blended food of meat, eggs and water. Doug also drank. He then went back to sleep. I decided to take a walk around and look for a rattlesnake, but I did not find one.
9 pm, Doug ate and drank, peed, and pooped for the first time. He then went back to sleep.
7-17-22, 0700 am 60 hours, Doug's swelling remains on the left side of his face. His lips are also swollen on the left side of his face. His right side has almost returned to normal. When he got up to eat I noticed that he was weak in the legs and a little wobbly. A little outside activity was in order, so He and one of the 8 week old pups went out to the work area. I would put an air conditioner in the back of the pick up and Doug and the puppy would hang out. They did play a kind of tag which was lighthearting to see. Doug also did quite a bit of walking around.
Doug's eyes remain somewhat swollen, at times they were almost swollen shut so much so that I had to hold his food and water up to him so he could eat and drink.
3:00 PM 68 hours, Doug is much better. He no longer spends all his time sleeping. Doug has become noticeably bonded to me. While outside he followed me around, and when out of sight he would cry. In the house he wanted to be right next to me and preferably on my lap. He is also making up for lost time in the eating, drinking, as well as pooping, and peeing. The damaged area caused by the rattlesnake bites has scabbed over and it's unknown what scarring if any will remain. The swelling on his right side and neck are about the size of a baseball and hard and tight. He is doing much better.
Note: While I am typing this Doug got up from laying with Jack and got up on my lap. First he would put a paw up on my lap and give me a pitiful look thru those swollen eyes. It would seem he feels quite peaceful on my lap. I'm thinking he might want to stay and live with me.
How do I feel overall? Sad and uneasy for the Gang. They have been in some wonderful conditions over the years. Full of days of running, hunting, playing, and swimming. Nights of comfort and peaceful rest. This is not it. Before now at least they had 10 acres to run on, now they are in a fenced in yard. They do play and seem fine, but I still feel for them. Kim is doing what needs to be done helping her dad, and am proud of her. The girls are doing great and have come so far over the years. Flagstaff is looking good with it's cool nights and wonderful days, where only the dreaded porcupine is of concern.
7 pm, 72 hours or 3 full days. Doug has been sleeping for the last few hours. He moved over so he could put his head on my leg while I was working on the computer. Seemed a little awkward to me, but I guess he liked it. I woke him up and took him out so he could pee, walk a bit and get a drink of water. I let him hang out with the gang for awhile. The gang seemed quite concerned about him and made a fuss over him. He then walked in the pool, and then laid on the mattress that is outside. He remains swollen on the left side, and even his lips on his right side are swollen. He seem to be back to being a happy pup.
6:15 am, July 18, 2022, 83 hours since Doug was bitten. The morning finds Doug fast asleep. The left side of his face remains swollen, his lips, cheek, and neck on the left side of his face. The right side of his face has pretty much returned to normal. His nose and his lips around his nose is also swollen.
Doug seemed almost happy to get out and visit his friends. All the dogs including the puppies treated him kindly, as if they knew he was not well. Doug played a few hours before he was returned inside where he took a nap with Jack, and later Sophie.
Noon, finds Doug about the same. He wants to be close to me, and put his head on my leg. He would rather be on my lap but I have work to do. He has been eating good and is gaining weight. The bite area remains scabbed over and looks pretty good. He face looks lop sided when viewed from the front. Doug worked his way up on my lap and seems as if he feels this is where he belongs.
9:00 PM, day 4 plus 2 hours. Doug is healing about as well as could be expected under the circumstances. He had a good day, he ate, slept, and spent time outside with the other dogs. His swelling is going down day by day. He has swelling on his left side where he was bitten. He also has a hard lump in the upper area of the neck on the same side.
The morning of the 19th fines Douglas Little Big Man well rested. Doug went outside to visit the pack for a little while, and when I picked him up to bring him back in I noticed that the 3 or 4 inch bite area that had been scabbed over was now broken open and looked pretty bad. The venom can cause the skin to rot. This will heal but it may take a while.
10:00 PM on the 19th, and it happened, one of the things I was worried most about. That is tissue damage cause by the snake venom. At first I thought it might crack open, then scab over, we were not that lucky. Only a few times of all the dog bitten have we had a dog that has damaged tissue that cause rotting to the skin and meat.
As I said it looks as if Doug had been bitten 2 or 3 times around the same area. This caused a pretty large damaged area on the left side of his face. Doug was lucky he was not paralyzed or even killed by the bites.
The scabbed over area broke open and showed quite a bit of pus. Doug's body was
working hard to fight the infection caused by the venom. I flushed out the area with Hydrogen Peroxide and put some Triple Antibiotic ointment in the wound. Later I would use some Silver Honey Rapid Wound Repair spray. This was after the scab had been completely removed. Amoxicillin was also stated, I should have listened to Hailey. Later Tracy would thoroughly clean the wound and all pus would be removed and the would looked very clean. I re-applied the Silver Honey, and at Ten we called it a night. The wound is about 4 inches long and1 inch wide and does look pretty bad when you look at it.
10:00 pm on July 20, 2022. Douglas is overall is doing very good. He is eating, sleeping, and playing with the other dogs. His open wound is doing better, still along way from being healed. However the wound is pretty clean and rotten tissue is gone being replaced with healthy tissue. Extra good food like beef and chicken, along with amoxicillin, and keeping the wound area clean helps. Still just a hint of swelling below the neck. Overall a very good day.
We have jumped to August 5, 2022. Douglas has healed a little everyday in a slow but continuous manner. Pretty fast if you think it's around the 3 week mark. At this time Doug has a pretty good scar. It has healed very well, but his nose is a little crooked toward the scarring.
One thing that has happened is Douglas and I have became pretty good friends. He has slept with me every night, and everyday I have tended to his needs, and his wound. Triple Antibiotic Ointment has been put into the wound, and then on the scabbing, and then on the scar, and now nothing is needed. At first with the open wound he hated being doctored. He would do his best to pull away. Often it would be Hailey and I holding him firm. Now he just holds still and seems to enjoy the attention.
Doug is a pretty smart boy. I watch him and he just seems to understand what I want. He loves to play and be with the other dogs and pups, but he also wants to know what I am doing. He also knows that bed time means he is going to be with me. He is potty trained and took to that pretty fast. Only one time early on did he pee the bed, and only one time did he potty in the house. He goes to the door when he wants out, ether in the tent or the trailer.
Doug has learned so much at Summer Camp above Parks Az as well as the other pups. The freedom to roam around camp in the daytime, go on outings and interact with people. The fact that we are out with them most of the day does wonders for the Gang as well as me. I feel my life coming to order. I make plans for the future and it has more dogs, not less.
Doug is a pretty good retriever and picked up the game with the tennis ball pretty fast. Both Chris and I would hit the ball for the big dogs, and we both picked up on the fact that Doug wanted us to hit the ball for him after the big dogs chased their ball. Doug loves birds, and both points and retrieves very well.
Overall Doug has helped me heal, as much as I have helped him. He has eased the loss of Jack somewhat. As I type this he is sleeping on the sleeping bag at my feet. When I get up and go to bed, he will notice that I have done and he will soon join me.
So there you have it, the true story of the puppy Doug, who was bit by a rattlesnake, and lived so I could tell the story.
What I and Doug a 12 week old puppy went through after Doug was bitten by a rattlesnake. July 14, 2022 at approx. 7:05 pm. I had been keeping the dogs in the smaller yard because there was a rattlesnake somewhere on the bigger 10 acres. I knew the snake was there because a week earlier Dux had been bitten. He recovered quickly but he was an adult dog.
The Gang had only been out a few minutes when they were called back. I needed a photo of the young dog for Jim in Wyoming. Jim had 5 generations of GSPs with Onyx Vom Zubsgof lines. Doug's GGG Grandfather on the mother's side was Onyx. A long way out, but Jim had lost a full brother to Doug's mom.
I asked Scarlett to find him so I could get a photo. Doug was already back at the trailer when she yelled that he had been bitten by a rattlesnake. Sure enough his face was just starting to swell, and he had a drop of blood toward the end of his nose, and clear fang marks.
Hailey checks the rest of the dogs and all the puppies and found that no one else had been bitten. Doug had been brought into the trailer and both Scarlett and Hailey tended to him. First a prayer from Scarlett and I, and then 3 tablespoons of Benadryl. Hailey took a special interest in him for the next few hours until bedtime, and then Doug would sleep with me. Doug's head was already pretty swollen, also it was painful for him and if his head was touched, or if he laid it down in the wrong place he would cry.
Doug slept through the night next to me with little movement. I however was having a pretty hard time. The snake bite caused me sadness, self-dougt, and a lot of second guessing. I was mad and upset because I had let the dogs out before finding the rattlesnake, also because I was somewhere once again where there were rattlesnakes, but it went beyond that, I simple had to many irons in the fire and was spread way to thin. Kim was taking care of her dad, I had the girls and dogs, it's hot, I don't have a very good set up here, most of our stuff was in Arizona, maybe I should be somewhere cooler. The fact is I was pissed and wanted to quit. Maybe I should get rid of most of the dogs so this did not happen anymore. Doug would make the 27th dog bitten by a rattlesnake to the best of my recollections. I had woken up through the night a dozen times to check on Doug.
At 5am 7-15-22, 10 hours after Doug was bitten he wanted up. He was standing at the end of the bed. I was glad to see that he was able to stand and was not paralyzed. Doug drank quite a bit of water and ate a little food. He then peed and went to sleep on the floor. He would cry if we left him alone. More Benadryl, and some pain pills. Hailey gave him some Amoxicillin but I told her that was for secondary infections and I did not think he needed it. I was pleased that she was trying.
Water and sleep was the order of the first part of the day. Doug's head was very swollen, there did seem to be less pain in the face. Most often dogs bitten do not show pain like a person, but Doug's face was painful to the touch for him. The girls had bike racing so we left around 2pm and took Doug with us. Doug slept on Hailey's lap, and continued to drink water and sleep the rest of the day. He was bleeding from the area of the snake bite and his lips were even more swollen.
I felt a little more in control, but I knew for the time being that things were not going to get easier. I would need to return to Arizona to deliver puppies, and for a time try and juggle our lives, and our situations. The night of the 15th Doug the 12 week old swollen headed shorthair puppy would once again sleep next to me. He would sleep well, his head would remain swollen, and I would worry through the night for him.
Both Doug and I would sleep in until 7am. This would be the 36 hour mark. 36 hours after Doug being bitten by a rattlesnake. His head would remain very swollen and more swelling had even moved onto the back of his neck. I carried Doug to the water on the floor and held the water up to him to help him drink. He drank deeply through very swollen eyes. I left him to attend to some work, and figured he would lay down on the floor. However he was able to climb the steps back up on my bed, where I found him fast asleep. He would repeat this same feat at noon. I was truly impressed by his ability to get back up on the bed, not so much that he wants to sleep on my side.
It's 3pm on the 16th, it's been 44 hours since Doug was bitten by the viper. He is sleeping of course on my side of the bed, when I checked on him and talked to him he moved around to more comfortable position. His head remains very swollen, his lips are swollen as well as the back of his neck and below his neck. He is breathing well and all signs look good for a full recovery. I remain sympathetic toward this little guy.
7-16-22 at 7pm, 48 hour mark. Doug's swelling is down quite a bit on the right side of the face, however the left side remains somewhat swollen. It would appear that Doug may have been bitten two or three times around the same spot on the front left side of his nose. The skin is an open wound at these sights and may not heal for a while, and scarring is most likely. Doug ate a blended food of meat, eggs and water. Doug also drank. He then went back to sleep. I decided to take a walk around and look for a rattlesnake, but I did not find one.
9 pm, Doug ate and drank, peed, and pooped for the first time. He then went back to sleep.
7-17-22, 0700 am 60 hours, Doug's swelling remains on the left side of his face. His lips are also swollen on the left side of his face. His right side has almost returned to normal. When he got up to eat I noticed that he was weak in the legs and a little wobbly. A little outside activity was in order, so He and one of the 8 week old pups went out to the work area. I would put an air conditioner in the back of the pick up and Doug and the puppy would hang out. They did play a kind of tag which was lighthearting to see. Doug also did quite a bit of walking around.
Doug's eyes remain somewhat swollen, at times they were almost swollen shut so much so that I had to hold his food and water up to him so he could eat and drink.
3:00 PM 68 hours, Doug is much better. He no longer spends all his time sleeping. Doug has become noticeably bonded to me. While outside he followed me around, and when out of sight he would cry. In the house he wanted to be right next to me and preferably on my lap. He is also making up for lost time in the eating, drinking, as well as pooping, and peeing. The damaged area caused by the rattlesnake bites has scabbed over and it's unknown what scarring if any will remain. The swelling on his right side and neck are about the size of a baseball and hard and tight. He is doing much better.
Note: While I am typing this Doug got up from laying with Jack and got up on my lap. First he would put a paw up on my lap and give me a pitiful look thru those swollen eyes. It would seem he feels quite peaceful on my lap. I'm thinking he might want to stay and live with me.
How do I feel overall? Sad and uneasy for the Gang. They have been in some wonderful conditions over the years. Full of days of running, hunting, playing, and swimming. Nights of comfort and peaceful rest. This is not it. Before now at least they had 10 acres to run on, now they are in a fenced in yard. They do play and seem fine, but I still feel for them. Kim is doing what needs to be done helping her dad, and am proud of her. The girls are doing great and have come so far over the years. Flagstaff is looking good with it's cool nights and wonderful days, where only the dreaded porcupine is of concern.
7 pm, 72 hours or 3 full days. Doug has been sleeping for the last few hours. He moved over so he could put his head on my leg while I was working on the computer. Seemed a little awkward to me, but I guess he liked it. I woke him up and took him out so he could pee, walk a bit and get a drink of water. I let him hang out with the gang for awhile. The gang seemed quite concerned about him and made a fuss over him. He then walked in the pool, and then laid on the mattress that is outside. He remains swollen on the left side, and even his lips on his right side are swollen. He seem to be back to being a happy pup.
6:15 am, July 18, 2022, 83 hours since Doug was bitten. The morning finds Doug fast asleep. The left side of his face remains swollen, his lips, cheek, and neck on the left side of his face. The right side of his face has pretty much returned to normal. His nose and his lips around his nose is also swollen.
Doug seemed almost happy to get out and visit his friends. All the dogs including the puppies treated him kindly, as if they knew he was not well. Doug played a few hours before he was returned inside where he took a nap with Jack, and later Sophie.
Noon, finds Doug about the same. He wants to be close to me, and put his head on my leg. He would rather be on my lap but I have work to do. He has been eating good and is gaining weight. The bite area remains scabbed over and looks pretty good. He face looks lop sided when viewed from the front. Doug worked his way up on my lap and seems as if he feels this is where he belongs.
9:00 PM, day 4 plus 2 hours. Doug is healing about as well as could be expected under the circumstances. He had a good day, he ate, slept, and spent time outside with the other dogs. His swelling is going down day by day. He has swelling on his left side where he was bitten. He also has a hard lump in the upper area of the neck on the same side.
The morning of the 19th fines Douglas Little Big Man well rested. Doug went outside to visit the pack for a little while, and when I picked him up to bring him back in I noticed that the 3 or 4 inch bite area that had been scabbed over was now broken open and looked pretty bad. The venom can cause the skin to rot. This will heal but it may take a while.
10:00 PM on the 19th, and it happened, one of the things I was worried most about. That is tissue damage cause by the snake venom. At first I thought it might crack open, then scab over, we were not that lucky. Only a few times of all the dog bitten have we had a dog that has damaged tissue that cause rotting to the skin and meat.
As I said it looks as if Doug had been bitten 2 or 3 times around the same area. This caused a pretty large damaged area on the left side of his face. Doug was lucky he was not paralyzed or even killed by the bites.
The scabbed over area broke open and showed quite a bit of pus. Doug's body was
working hard to fight the infection caused by the venom. I flushed out the area with Hydrogen Peroxide and put some Triple Antibiotic ointment in the wound. Later I would use some Silver Honey Rapid Wound Repair spray. This was after the scab had been completely removed. Amoxicillin was also stated, I should have listened to Hailey. Later Tracy would thoroughly clean the wound and all pus would be removed and the would looked very clean. I re-applied the Silver Honey, and at Ten we called it a night. The wound is about 4 inches long and1 inch wide and does look pretty bad when you look at it.
10:00 pm on July 20, 2022. Douglas is overall is doing very good. He is eating, sleeping, and playing with the other dogs. His open wound is doing better, still along way from being healed. However the wound is pretty clean and rotten tissue is gone being replaced with healthy tissue. Extra good food like beef and chicken, along with amoxicillin, and keeping the wound area clean helps. Still just a hint of swelling below the neck. Overall a very good day.
We have jumped to August 5, 2022. Douglas has healed a little everyday in a slow but continuous manner. Pretty fast if you think it's around the 3 week mark. At this time Doug has a pretty good scar. It has healed very well, but his nose is a little crooked toward the scarring.
One thing that has happened is Douglas and I have became pretty good friends. He has slept with me every night, and everyday I have tended to his needs, and his wound. Triple Antibiotic Ointment has been put into the wound, and then on the scabbing, and then on the scar, and now nothing is needed. At first with the open wound he hated being doctored. He would do his best to pull away. Often it would be Hailey and I holding him firm. Now he just holds still and seems to enjoy the attention.
Doug is a pretty smart boy. I watch him and he just seems to understand what I want. He loves to play and be with the other dogs and pups, but he also wants to know what I am doing. He also knows that bed time means he is going to be with me. He is potty trained and took to that pretty fast. Only one time early on did he pee the bed, and only one time did he potty in the house. He goes to the door when he wants out, ether in the tent or the trailer.
Doug has learned so much at Summer Camp above Parks Az as well as the other pups. The freedom to roam around camp in the daytime, go on outings and interact with people. The fact that we are out with them most of the day does wonders for the Gang as well as me. I feel my life coming to order. I make plans for the future and it has more dogs, not less.
Doug is a pretty good retriever and picked up the game with the tennis ball pretty fast. Both Chris and I would hit the ball for the big dogs, and we both picked up on the fact that Doug wanted us to hit the ball for him after the big dogs chased their ball. Doug loves birds, and both points and retrieves very well.
Overall Doug has helped me heal, as much as I have helped him. He has eased the loss of Jack somewhat. As I type this he is sleeping on the sleeping bag at my feet. When I get up and go to bed, he will notice that I have done and he will soon join me.
So there you have it, the true story of the puppy Doug, who was bit by a rattlesnake, and lived so I could tell the story.