Tag Archives: redtail golden retrievers

Rattlesnake Attacks Puppy

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When we first found the puppy bitten by the rattlesnake, we assumed it happened in the tall grass by the bird pen while on a walk with puppy owners.(See https://sneakingbliss.com/2018/08/26/rattlesnake-strike/) It just made sense that the puppy surprised the snake and in defense the snake bit. Yesterday, I reviewed footage of the puppy cam to see if I could observe any odd behavior after the puppies returned to the playpen following the walk. What I saw was unsettling to say the least. As the video plays, keep an eye on the right side of the ball pit.

 

 

Rattlesnake Strike

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Friday night, we had an evening woods walk with few puppy families. Saturday was go home day for Bliss and Sailor’s 8-week-old puppies. The rattlesnake didn’t alert with a rattle. The puppy didn’t cry. No one knew anything had happened until symptoms set in. Edited to add: I found out the next week where and when the strike happened.

On the way to the vet.

On the way to the vet.

Our first thought upon discovering a pup with a swollen face was that the puppy bit a bee or was stung perhaps multiple times. Yellow jackets have been plentiful this year. We gave him Benadryl, but it didn’t help, the swelling continued. He was agitated and in a LOT of pain. Rattlesnake bite was also on our radar. One of our vets met us at the hospital in Redding, so we didn’t have to use the ER with a puppy during the at-risk period for parvovirus.

The puppy resting in Tim’s arms after pain meds.

The vet also leaned toward rattlesnake bite due to the intense pain the puppy was suffering. But without the conclusive bite marks, we would be treating symptoms with powerful drugs. We shaved part of his head but couldn’t find fang marks, only a single scrape on the head with a dry scab. It’s hot and dry this time of year, a wound will scab over quickly. This puppy wasn’t presenting like a classic bee sting so we wondered if that spot could be the envenomation point since it was very tender to the touch. We started meds and blood work. If the blood work showed nothing, it would be of no help. But if the red blood cells were changing, we’d have our proof.

The envenomation site outlined by ink dots.

While we waited on blood work, the pain didn’t ease, even on pain med. As Tim and I decided we would go ahead and treat for snake bite, the vet came in with the results of the blood work. That with microscopy analysis confirmed the telltale signs of rattlesnake envenomation.

The puppy was hospitalized and started on antivenin, more pain meds, and supportive care. We returned home and went rattlesnake hunting.

Tim with the culprit.

By 11:00 pm that night, round two of antivenin was started and we had the culprit skinned and ready for the freezer.

By 8:00 am the next morning, the puppy was feeling better. He came home last night.
Of course, the puppy had been paired with a family. We candidly discussed their options and they chose to pass on this puppy and wait for a pup from another litter.
Fast forward to this morning, the puppy now known as Fang looks much better. He feels and acts like a normal puppy. It will take a few more days for the swelling to subside. He will stay with us until healed and then be paired with a new family. He’s one tough puppy.

Kelly, one of the techs shared this image with us.

The Northern Pacific rattlesnake delivered a glancing blow with a single fang. Had it succeeded in a full-on strike, I don’t know if the 8-week-old puppy would’ve survived.

Counting our blessings.

Note:

For those who are touting the highly advertised rattlesnake vaccine, take note. That vaccine is specifically designed around the western diamondback and isn’t supported by peer-reviewed research. Our rattlesnakes are the Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Different snake, different venom. A dog still requires veterinary attention even if “vaccinated”. Antivenin treatment is necessary if heavily envenomated, period. There is no conclusive research to support those vaccines for the rattlesnakes in our area. UC Davis Veterinary Hospital doesn’t stock the vaccine.  In an NIH study of the Western Diamondback rattlesnake vaccine, within 48 hours 60% of the vaccinated subjects injected with Western diamondback venom died, 80% death rate for Northern Pacific and 100% death rate for Southern Pacific. Furthermore, an 8-week-old puppy isn’t old enough for this non-core vaccine.

His first night back home. 24 hours after the snakebite.

36 hours after the rattlesnake bite, the puppy is on the mend.

Dog Day Bliss

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In celebration of National Dog Day…

Phanny photobombs!
Sitting pretty.
Pure joy, she is such a happy puppy!
A beautiful day in the frying-pan poppies for the puppy in the mandarine spice collar.
Strolling through the grass.
Hope your day is ducky!
Bliss and Phanny photobombed a puppy photo shoot.
Here, have a smile!
Tasha’s puppies are due any day!
The entire pack when we returned home. Tasha is on maternity leave so she wasn’t at the club with us. She enjoyed the birds once we got home.
Bliss pointing her pheasant.
Sailor pointing his pheasant.
Phanny’s first retrieve of the day lands in the water.
Phanny flushes a beautiful rooster.
Sailor bringing dinner in.
A nice wrap to a day at Clear Creek Sports Club.
Bliss bringing in her bounty.
Bliss with a nice rooster.
Sailor shows his appreciation.
Phanny relishes her pheasant.
Phanny gets another water retrieve.
Saturday Night Redtail Phantom
Phanny on her first hunting retrieve.
Phanny delivers her pheasant to Tim.
The three of us.
Sailor’s tie-breaking​ jump gains another foot in distance.
Sailor’s second jump ties him with Bliss.
Fluffy puppy Phanny builds confidence in her jumps before taking on the full run.
Bliss’ 1st jump of the night.
Tasha takes her leap from the side. Happy girl.
Bliss and Tim on her 2nd jump
Wait for me!
We stopped at the Gallatin River for a family shot on our way to the west side of Yellowstone while heading home.
Bliss plans a twig thieving strike.
About half way home near the border between Idaho and Nevada, Tim snapped this shot of me with Phanny.
Phanny knocked the food bag over and helped herself.
Tasha, Sailor, and Bliss by the creek the day before we left with Phanny.
Tasha slips into the pond in an attempt to escape the pesky puppy.
Phanny meets the chickens. Later she will learn these are “no birds.”
Phanny in the blue lupin.
The first shot of the pack at home. L-R: Bliss, Tasha, Phanny, Sailor
Better grab fast.
On it!
Enjoying the moment. A good start for a future hunter.
Proud puppy success.
A natural born swimmer.
Phanny sneaks a moment with Tim.
The nice cool water felt pretty good.
Wait for me. Phanny follows the big dogs into the little pond.
Saturday Night Redtail Phantom – “Phanny”
Bliss, Sailor, Tasha and Phanny in front.
In our area, the first showing of wild flowers happens around Tasha’s birthday.
Tasha is joined by Sailor and Bliss. Bliss, Sailor, Tasha
Redtail’s Hotty Toddy Tasha – turns 3 years old today.
Everyone needs a hug now and then. Tasha and one of her 2-day-old puppies. Too cute.
Sometimes life requires a different approach.
Finally, all together at camp.
Hope. We have hope that she will make it.
Bliss and her great-granddam, Chloe. Two peas in a pod.
Great-granddam, Blaze, at 2-years-old.
Lacey, great-great-grandam. Photo-courtesy Kathleen Hagen
Great-great-granddam, Blaze, at 7-weeks-old.
1989 – Great-great-great-Granddam, Kate, 6-months-old, after a pheasant hunt with Bo. (great-great-great-grandsire)
Gracie and Sailor watch ducks on the big pond.
Sailor in a late winter sunset with ducks on the pond at our place.
A nice shot of Blitz (front) with Kinta and Sailor in a patch of frying-pan poppies.
Sailor wraps up his first pheasant season.
One year later.
Sailor enjoys a visit from Bella.
Sailor
His favorite hangout is at our ponds with the ducks.
Sailor has a happy disposition.
Hunting with Sailor.
Hard charging drive.
Sailor on the hunt. Yes, he’s always this happy.
The sun filters in on Sailor in the Redwoods.
On the beach near Smith River. CA. L-R: Kinta, Tim, Mary, Sailor
Sailor has lots of energy and loves the water.
All go…
I can’t believe this week marks six months since Sailor came into our home. He blossoms a little more each day.
Young Kinta is almost 11 months old. Next month, he goes home to his forever home with his family in Japan.
Kinta’s second land retrieve.
Success! Kinta earns his first JH qualifier. L-R: Noriko, Mary, Tim – Kinta with his ribbon.
Kinta crosses water, land, water, land, water, and finally land for the final bird. A difficult retrieve for a young dog,
Bringing it in with smile.
The impish look comes right before the paper shred. Don’t worry Rhythm, the book was saved in the nick of time!
Saturday Night Kintaro of Akiyama – Kinta helps me haul firewood.
Handsome boy watches down the driveway… are those quail he sees?
Kinta enjoys some Northern California sunshine.
Noriko and Yoshi with the pack.
Noriko, Sakurako, Mary & Hawk
Hawk and Saku with Noriko and Mary
People: Noriko, Yoshinori, Mary, Tim Goldens: Jutaro, Hawk, Blitz, Tessa, Tom, Nellie
Tim, The Forester Artist, with Blitz and Teka.
Teka greets Kathleen, one of her people who came to watch her at the event. Teka properly loved up both Doug and Kathleen.
Puppies serve as a perfect distraction to capture her beautiful smile. Along with our grand-daughter, she enjoys the pups. The one she is petting will grow up to be the sire to her dog.
Tom dog (R) walks with Grandthing 3 and Jake (L) Jake is Tom dog’s grand-pup.
Tom dog came home to a young 11 year old boy. Now 26, Tom’s “boy” misses him the most.
Stephen and Tom with Tim and Blaze following successful Senior Hunter Qualifiers.
Tessa all ready for a visit. She was an active participant in Rx Pets. http://www.prescriptionpets.org/ She often carried a basket of fun while cheering people.
This photo was taken a few weeks before she died in this last spring. Today is the first birthday without her. Many lives were touched by this wonderful girl.
Taken at 7½ weeks. Hawk was a very special dog.
Sneaking a little bliss with Tim’s pens… shhh, he doesn’t know 🙂

Puppy Pic of the Day

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Here, have a smile!

Here, have a smile!