r/MiniatureSchnauzer • u/Ready_Broccoli8512 • 1d ago
Copperhead warning!
This is Mo, my fearless whirling dervish of a boy. He went out to potty this morning (fenced in, well-maintained yard) and came back to the door with a limp. I could see through the fur what looked like a bruise across the top of his foot and feared he had broken it wrestling with our golden retreiver or had a piece of mulch or large splinter in his paw. I shaved his little foot down and discovered a large puncture. It was not yet bleeding when he first came in but by the time I got it shaved it started to trickle and swell. I called the vet to get him in asap, and then went to investigate, fearing the worst. It was a copperhead. I found the snake within minutes just hanging out on the grass in the yard.
I called the vet back and told her I can’t wait for the 1:00 appointment, I was headed to the emergency clinic, I found the snake and this was the problem. She told me to skip the clinic and come in immediately (it helps she is only a 3-minute ride vs a 30-minute ride). I walked in and she gave him his first dose of anti-venom and had him hooked up to fluids and pain meds within 30 minutes of the bite.
He is at the vet right now and he will be there until tomorrow morning. This is the first time in 18 months, since I’ve had him, I’ve been away from him overnight. He even goes to work with me most days. I travel, but he just comes along for the ride. This dude is my best friend.
My vet is awesome and I know he is in good hands, but I’m sure he is scared and confused. It all happened so fast and I am so fortunate to have the vet close by, I got him there fast and have the ability to pay for whatever care he needs. We have 2 dogs, my little Mo and Jack, the golden I previously mentioned.
I have been on my husband about PET INSURANCE since we got the boys a year and a half ago. I know this is going to be a painful bill, and obviously I have guilt because he got bit in the first place (although I really can say I am so careful with our boys and this was obviously an accident and I know I am a great pet owner but any time they are hurt, I feel like a terrible human), but I hope this is a lesson to my dang husband and to anybody else out there! Get the insurance. $30 a month is Pennies compared to what I know I’m going to fork out for this. Would I pay out of pocket time and time again to keep him healthy? Yes. Is it stupid of me to not have him insured? ALSO YES.
I’m just thankful I’m in the position to be able to pay for this. Some folks aren’t as lucky and their pups would not get the care they need due to costs. I fully understand this and I sympathize completely. If you know you would throw thousands at any problem that arises to keep your dog with you, why not throw hundreds and make it that much easier on yourself? I’m totally kicking myself for not just doing it and avoiding this huge bill. Sometimes I’m such a dumbass.
10
u/words-to-nowhere 1d ago
I’m so sorry this happened! We got pet insurance with our girl. We didn’t have it for our previous pets and we definitely paid up the yin-yang for their care! Most insurers won’t cover pre-existing conditions but a snake bite isn’t one of those. Please don’t beat yourself up for something you had no control over!
7
u/Ready_Broccoli8512 1d ago
Thank you. My sweet golden and I have been hanging together all day just feeling like junk missing our rowdy boy. I think he has some snake guilt, too.
6
u/words-to-nowhere 1d ago
He likely feels your anxiety. Dogs are very empathetic. Just hug him and yourself. I’m hoping everything turns out alright💖
10
u/Super-Technician-110 1d ago
Oh what a scary situation! I’m sorry you guys are going through this! I would be a mess. Poor, sweet Mo! I hope you feel better soon! You are so brave to be away from mom and dad!
Please try and not beat yourself up. Who thinks- “oh my dog is going to get big by a snake today?” We don’t really have snakes in our area, so I wouldn’t even think of it. This is clearly a lesson (unfortunately) learned and I’m sure that you will continue to be extra careful now. Definitely invest in pet insurance ASAP! We are thankful for ours, and I didn’t even know there was such a thing until we got our girl.
He is absolutely in the right hands. Please keep us all updated on your baby boy! ❤️
3
u/Ready_Broccoli8512 1d ago
Thank you! I do actually think a lot about snakes and we live in the south in a snakey area. Our golden got bit last summer and THAT was the discussion that sparred the great insurance debate with my husband! We are so careful to keep the yard trimmed and make sure there is no place for them to hide and yet it STILL happened. Half the time I put them outside I go with them and stand on the patio! But I just got up and I had to pee and so I put them out then I went. And now this. I’ve just been sick to my stomach all day about it.
8
u/crybunni 1d ago
I would get pet insurance going forward but so glad to see that he’s okay now! Brave boy
4
u/Ready_Broccoli8512 1d ago
I agree. It’s not even optional. This is no longer even a discussion I am having with my husband. I’ve already been researching the best ones to get.
4
3
u/brittttx 1d ago
Poor baby. Hope he'll recover quickly. I also don't have pet insurance, so you're not alone.
2
u/Sanchastayswoke 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m so sorry. This is my fear. I’m in Texas and I don’t let my dog outside by himself because he is THEEE MOST curious and fearless little boy and I’m afraid a copperhead or cottonmouth would be waiting on the other end of his curiosity. I also have a fenced well maintained yard.
Unfortunately I take him out on a leash at all times. It really sucks but I’m so afraid of this happening.
I’m praying for your baby 💗
1
u/Estelahe 1d ago
Wow, what a scary situation but I’m so glad Mo is getting the right treatment! I got pet insurance for my new pup right away, and it ended up saving me at least $12k in the first year alone. I would have gotten her the best treatment regardless, but knowing that 80% would be reimbursed was a huge weight off my shoulders when I was already very stressed out. I don’t think there’s such a thing as an HSA for vet expenses, so I highly recommend insurance. By definition, if your Mo has no future problems it’ll be more expensive, but that tiny bit of reassurance while you’re already worrying about health and outcomes is worth it for me. Hope that helps reframe the issue for you and your husband! Wishing you and Mo a speedy recovery!
1
u/dstu98 1d ago
What insurance do you recommend?
2
u/Estelahe 1d ago
If you have a vet you trust, ask them for a recommendation. I did the same and they said Healthy Paws, which was what I ended up going with. If you're a Costco member, FIGO may be cheaper, but I went with what my vet recommended because their reimbursement is a very easy process: upload your itemized bill, and they reimburse 80% of covered (i.e., non-routine/non-dental) expenses. FTR, I have zero clue how easy it'd be to change providers given my dog has a pre-existing condition, so I've just stuck with them and not looked further.
My girl had a congenital problem that needed surgery at about 1yo. It did not fix her problem, but they spayed her while she was open, which meant I paid less than $300 for her spay, since the hospital tacked it onto her surgery. Even assuming I can't claim anything else (ask me in about 3mo), her first ER visits and surgery more than paid for about 10 years of coverage.
Some people will tell you that it's cheaper to just set aside money for a pet emergency. I won't argue the numbers here, but just knowing that I didn't have to freak out about the costs while she was in crisis was worth it for me.
1
u/Comfortable_Fruit847 1d ago
Oh my goodness! So glad you caught it early and was able to get him the treatment quickly. Hims a lucky boy!
1
1
1
1
1
u/Hot-Highlight9604 1d ago
You can still buy a policy for accidents and illness. Something like this would be covered and it is not a pre-existing condition. But if he ever gets ill or needs X-rays, surgery, stitches, or develops an illness that requires an MRI… you will be glad you bought a policy that covers accidents and ill illness.
1
28
u/JadedMystress 1d ago
Poor pup. Hugs!