Any ideas on how to eradicate snakes? My pup Lucy was bit.

[Wcross]

Poor girl came in the other day with her head swollen up, luckily she didn't take a full dose of venom so it didn't harm her too badly (just a bout of diarrhea and the swelling went down by the next afternoon). I didn't seek vet help because I couldn't see any puncture wounds & I mistakenly thought she had dug up a hornets nest. When the swelling went down I did see one puncture wound.
I guess I could see about adopting a mongoose but is there a more practical way to drive off snakes?

[mainegreen]

1. St Patick?

Sorry to hear about the dog.
:(

[Wcross]

2. She's fine now.

Maybe she has learned not to try to play with snakes?

[Richardo]

4. It's a hard lesson, but effective.

The only dog we had who was bitten more than once was a male JRT, and of course there's no controlling them. Talk about impulsive behavior :eyes:

[Richardo]

3. Each one of our dogs has been bitten at one time or another (copperheads)

The venom is not typically a problem - they just move very slowly, their muzzle (the usual bite site) swells like a balloon, and they sleep it off.

Our vet told us that the real threat is infection, and antibiotics are indicated immediately - this is not medical advice, but I would take my dogs to check for infection and/or get some antibiotics.

Hope Lucy feels better soon - she's a real cutie :loveya: :hug:

[Wcross]

5. It was probably a copperhead.

She spends a LOT of time poking around the treeline & that's where copperheads usually hang out. That's exactly how it went, her muzzle swelled up, she was drooling heavily but otherwise seemed ok. She slept on the bed with me (which is unusual for her) the next morning she was a little better, by that evening she was back to normal.

[hunter]

6. I live in the west, so it's only rattlesnakes.

Right from the start most dogs I've known don't mess with snakes. Those that have messed with rattlesnakes don't do it again, and fortunately rattlesnakes generally don't waste a lot of venom teaching these dogs a very hard lesson.

If you live in a rural or semi-rural area there will always be snakes. If you run across them while walking your dogs they will note your alarm and stay back.

Now, if only the same thing was true about sixth grade boys... My worst snake encounter I was watching over a hurd of witless boys when they caught a rattlesnake in a corner and started poking at it with sticks. Geez...

What a sweet puppy! :loveya:

[Orsino]

7. Dogs are a *lot* faster than snakes.

If you can, walk the area before they do, warning off any snakes. Don't let the doggies run free in snake-infested places! Keep 'em on a leash whenever possible.

[Maddy McCall]

8. You'd do better to teach your dogs to avoid snakes.

Read up on this on the internet.

You can't get rid of snakes. You can make them less likely to hang around your home by keeping dogfood inside, getting rid of rubbish or log piles, and making your property generally unattractive to mice and critters that snakes hunt.

Still, there's no way to keep snakes away...the best thing you can do is teach your dogs to avoid snakes.

[NV Whino]

9. Key an eye on her for abscesses

With snake bites it's not so much the venom, but the puncture wounds. God only know where those fangs have been. You might want to take her to the vet for an antibiotic just to be safe.

[suninvited]

10. Geese

they are great for keeping a yard clear of snakes. But they might chase off visitors and UPS guys and the pup will learn very quickly to have respect.

[harmonicon]

11. there are snake fences

I don't know how well they work though. My girlfriend worked at a dog rescue place out in the desert a few years ago. They had a type of short mesh fence that was supposed to keep rattlesnakes out - some still got through some how, and one of the dogs was bitten and taken to the emergency vet. Man, I hate snakes.

[gr8dane_daddy]

12. What you might try is to

spread some ashes from the next BBQ you have (charcoal ashes) around the perimeter of the property. I've heard that helps.

[Wcross]

13. I need a couple of mongooses!

Thats the only way!

[ghostsofgiants]

14. Ohhh whacking day, oh whacking dayyyy!

:P

[Flaxbee]

15. I'll be she has learned to avoid snakes... and you don't really

want to eradicate snakes - they're good for keeping rodent populations down, they *do* serve a purpose in life. Just hopefully not biting dogs on the schnoz. I'm glad Lucy's OK! I know you live on a bunch of rural land of your own - just please be careful when you're out walking -

[Kali]

16. Cats

Of the common domestic animals cats are the most resistant to rattlesnake venom. They will sit and tease one until you hear it buzz too. Get rid of all rodents and possible hiding places. You can make yard barriers with tin but it is not easy.

Had a dumb dog that got bit on the head 4 times before she finally died. Never learned.

[unsavedtrash]

17. My mom spreads mothballs around her property and under the house.

The smell can be a bit much when they first go out but so far no more snakes.