[Amy]

He was bitten on Tuesday. These pics were from today after 6 rounds of anti-venom in the ICU.

This is a northern copperhead. They are pit vipers. Average length is between 24"-36". They have fangs that inject prey with hemolytic venom with breaks down red blood cells causing hemorrhaging.



In these pictures the swelling had started to subside. Down 3" from the maximum. You can see the bruising and discoloration in his foot and tearing of the flesh on his toes. The bite was just below his ankle on his heel. You can see the bite in the first picture. The two small puncture holes.

He is unable to walk on it or apply any pressure. Says it feels like he is getting his foot and legs broken each time he has to stand up (with his crutches) and then it just feels broken. Never lessens in pain.

With a copperhead bite the area swells from the bite inward and the swelling will leave in the same manner....from the bite inward.

[Nickola]

Wow! Glad he's ok. So what happens now, you just wait for the swelling to subside? Could there be any permanent tissue damage in his foot?

[vagabond]

Damn- that looks awful! Was that a heavy dose of venom or just a light bite? I hope he is out of pain soon and no permanent damage. Gawd, I bet it itches like a bitch.

[Amy]

He will have a check-up on monday to talk about tissue damage and other side effects of the venom. Swelling has to go down a bit first.

Vagabond, he got a full dose of venom from the snake but he got to the hospital in an hour and they were able to start the anti-venom just over 2 hours after the bite. This is what will probably save his ass and toes.

[HarveySpecter]

How did it happen?

[mintycbo]

Ouch.. We have plenty of those in Pennsylvania.. most prominent venomous snake here, other two being the Timber Rattlesnake and the Eastern Maussasauga Rattlesnake (Which is endangered).

Hopefully he has minimal tissue damage.
Should be fine though. probably sport a limp for a month.
(Some people don't even go to the E.R. for getting bitten by them, the ones that do usually are in too much pain and that alone is enough to get them to go there. Me? Hell yeah I'd go to the E.R. for a bite from one..lol)

Here's some more info on them.

http://www.copperhead-snake.com/

http://www.venomousreptiles.org/articles/373

http://www.herpnation.com/hn-blog/sn...ry=daniel-duff

[kellyhound]

lucky for him and you he was treated so fast after the bite and hope he will make a clean recovery

[rapeWhistle]

I've been using a flashlight when i got outside at night now, usually i'd just walk around barefoot because i've never seen a venomous snake in the 6yrs i've lived here.... but, better safe than sorry!

Thanks, amyy - hope the permanent damage is minimal.

[ellone]

Damn. Looks extremely painful. Hope he gets better! I know he will!

[MeMyselfandI]

Great post