From:
RWhitt1212@aol.com
Date: 2004-08-16 15:56:12 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] snake bites - antivenin
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <ae.5f7650eb.2e52331c@aol.com>
Hi,
I can't answer your question as far as animals being bit but I can tell you
that in humans
antivenin is a last choice in many instances.
I was bitten by a Copperhead 2 years ago. I was not given the antivenin
because I was told it can cause some nasty side effects. I was told the only time
they give the antivenin is if the person started having signs of organ
failure etc.
I was told that they usually treat the obvious symptoms and that different
people react differently to the bites.
The emergency doctor that treated me said I was the worse snake bite he'd
seen.
Chances are that if it was in the evening or early morning it could have
been a Copperhead.
Before I was bit I never even saw the snake. It left three very small little
marks. And yes, I said three. None of them really bled. Just a small drop of
blood appeared.
I don't know if any of this helps but maybe it will explain a little.
Robin in NC