04/08/2025
Quick thinking can save a life
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT:
I've been very busy the last few days with trying to save a horse that got bit in the nose by a RATTLESNAKE. (I've not been trying to ignore anyone.)
For those of you that live in an area where there are venomous snakes.... Listen up......
If a horse gets bit in the leg.... it's Bad... but, if they get bit in the face, especially the nose... it's Life Threatening, and can be Deadly... FAST!
The nose swells up, the nostrils close up, and the horse will SUFFOCATE! A horse must breathe through his nostrils. They Can't breathe through their mouth.
I didn't see this horse get bit by the rattlesnake... but, when I found the horse, he was suffocating! I knew what must have happened.... and I knew what I had to do, and do it FAST! I had to get Air to my horse!
The nostrils were so tightly closed... the only tubes I could fit up his nostrils were the size of a pencil, which sure didn't give him much Air..... but, it was enough to keep him from dying. After he could get a Little Air.... he quit thrashing around so bad, and he was not in as much of a Panic. Then, I prepared some lengths of garden hose to put in his nostrils. I tried to trim the edges so they wouldn't be as rough... because I knew is was going to be tough to get them in place. A frightened horse in a lot of pain doesn't want anyone to touch him, much less push a lubricated garden hose up his nose, when there is barely enough room for a pencil.
By this time, I had him in the stocks to minimize his movement so I could try to get him more air.
I slid the water hose along side the tiny hose, and although I made him bleed... I knew I had to get him more air. After both bigger hoses were in place... he was frantically trying to breathe deeper, and the pain from putting the tubes in made him breathe heavier and it was still hard to breathe through the larger hoses..... but, at least he could breathe. The hoses are held in place with tape, but putting tape on a painfully swollen face has it's own set of challenges.
Once I knew he was getting air... the next step was getting veterinary help.
Well, this happened Saturday, and around here... the vet was closed.
A visitor to the ranch that drove up for her appointment ... arrived as the tubes were put in the nose. She called her friend in Texas, who was a Vet, and after the vet confirmed we already had tubes in his nose.... she told me the horse needed Dex, Banamine, and Pen G. I had several things on hand, so I did what I could do for him with what I had.... but, still needed to get my local vet here...
Many phone calls later, and leaving messages, and eventually reaching the Mother of one of the vets... I found out that everyone was out of town, but should be back later that night.
My horse's face was swelling even more, and he was becoming unrecognizable. (Photo from when tubes were put in) He swelled to twice that size at his worst.
When a horse has been bit by a venomous snake, it is critical to keep the horse calm and as quiet possible. I kept him in the stocks with a fan on him.
Note- A horse bitten by a venomous snake, should NEVER be sedated.
His lips, mouth, and tongue swelled so much that swallowing was impossible. I let him try to lick water from a hose, but he couldn't swallow it. He so wanted to eat and drink, but this was impossible.
Later- the local vet arrived.... and after taking one look at the garden hoses sticking out of the grotesquely deformed face.... he looked at me and said I saved his life by getting the tubes in his nose when I did....
Meds, I.V. Anti-Venom, I.V. fluids, and Antibiotics were given. The road to recovery had begun.
I stayed with my horse most of the night, keeping him calm, and quiet.
The licking of water seemed to keep him happy, and was a distraction from being hungry.
Day two- The vets came back for more Anti-Venom, Meds, and I.V. Fluids. The swelling was now improving some...
Now on our 3rd day.... the swelling has improved enough that the nasal tubes have been removed, and although breathing is still far from normal... he can breathe without the tubes.
His upper lip and muzzle are still extremely swollen, but he can drink from a tub now, and I.V. fluids are no longer needed.
Eating is difficult, and water soaked alfalfa pellets (Mush) can be licked up. Eating will take a back seat to fluids for now.
He will have to be on Antibiotics for an extended time, because Snakes carry large amounts of bacteria in their mouth/fangs and this can be fatal.
I hope none of you reading this post ever have to experience what I've been through the last few days. But, I hope this information was helpful, and that if you or someone you know has a horse bitten by a venomous snake in the face.... you will know what to do until the vet can help.
Please Share to reach others that may benefit from this information. If one horse is saved.... it is worth it.
