I am Studs Delmond, a 6-yr old Sheltie and one very lucky guy. On Memorial Day weekend, while playing in my yard, I sensed an intruder in the bushes. I went right in there and dragged a water moccasin out to give it the shaking of its life, but my efforts earned me some nasty bites and an even nastier dose of venom. Now, if you think getting a poisonous snake bite is just a matter of going to your vet for a shot of antivenin and Voila! you are cured, let me tell you just how wrong you are! 
   First thing that happened after my close encounter with the snake, my usual vet clinic in Gainesville couldn’t even get me in to be seen by a doctor. I told you I’m a lucky guy though, and well-loved too, because my humans took me to Lake Area Animal Hospital in Melrose, where they know just how bad a snake bite can be and even keep antivenin in stock for different types of poisonous snake bites. 
    I was really swelling up so my humans elected to have the doctor give me antivenin. I already told you that fixing up your pet after a snake bite isn’t just a simple matter of getting a shot of antivenin. Antivenin treatment requires IV administration along with fluids, antibiotics, pain medication, blood work, hospitalization...you get the picture now. I was able to go back home the night of my snake encounter, but on Memorial Day my humans saw blood in my urine and it being a holiday, off we went to the emergency clinic. My front legs, chest, jaw and mouth were so swollen and very badly bruised the ER doctor had to put the IV in my back leg (you know they usually put it in your front leg). I couldn't even eat or drink water; that will tell you how badly a snake can mess you up. 
   Well I spent all day Tuesday at Lake Area Animal Hospital, receiving fluids and being cared for by those nice people who said I’m a real “trooper” (I think that means I was quiet and never once complained) and then it was more of the same at the emergency clinic that night because I was still too sick to go home. Wednesday I was back at Lake Area and starting to look and feel better so Dr. Blackburn said I could go home for the night-Hooray!
   Sad to say, that wasn’t the end of my ordeal, not at all. Some effects of snake bite can occur days and even weeks later. I had to go back to Lake Area Animal Hospital to be treated for open wounds from the snake bites and open wounds all over my throat area where damaged and dying skin was sloughing off (sounds gross-I know!). They cleaned me up and I went home and continued to heal and feel much better, but I still had to go back to Lake Area Animal Hospital to have some damaged skin surgically removed and closed. Snake bites sure are bad news! Here's a photo of my neck when I went to have my surgical stitches removed. 
   Now I am fully back to being my super sweet and wonderful self (hey, I’m not vain, I’m just telling you what the humans said). I’ll tell you one more thing; you don’t have to go nose to nose with a poisonous snake to get the very best care at Lake Area Animal Hospital because they will take care of all your needs; but I sure do recommend them if you find yourself in a predicament like mine. Those nice people have won my gratitude and affection and my humans agree because they have decided to make Lake Area Animal Hospital my new vet care providers. I really am a lucky dog!