What Happens When a Cottonmouth Snake Bites a Dog?

The cottonmouth is a venomous snake found mainly in the southeastern United States. While cottonmouths are not very aggressive, they tend to stand their ground more than other snakes when threatened, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. This puts inquisitive dogs at risk of being bitten.

  1. Cottonmouth Bites

    • When a cottonmouth bites a mammal, such as a dog, it strikes quickly, and then immediately releases its hold. This is because mammals are more likely to bite back, compared to other types of animals. As it bites a dog, the snake uses its two fangs to puncture the dog's skin, and then injects its venom by contracting the muscles around the venom glands. The venom travels though the hollow fangs, out holes at the tips and into the dog's body.

    Cottonmouth Venom

    • The cottonmouth is a type of pit viper, and its venom is hemotoxic. This means that the toxins in cottonmouth venom act primarily on the blood and circulatory system of its prey. These hemotoxins prevent blood from coagulating or clotting properly, and can break down the blood cells and tissues in the dog's body. This causes hemorrhaging wherever the venom comes in contact with the circulatory system.

    Cottonmouth Bite Symptoms

    • External symptoms of cottonmouth bites include two puncture marks where the fangs were inserted, along with swelling and redness at the site of the wounds. The snake's venom may cause extreme pain and visible hemorrhaging of the skin. Other symptoms of cottonmouth bites in dogs depend on the location of the bite and the amount of venom absorbed into the body, and can include behavior changes such as panting, drooling, and restlessness.

    First Aid

    • If your dog is bitten by a poisonous snake like the cottonmouth, its chances for recovery are favorable, according to Televets. In the case of a snakebite, they recommend trying to identify the snake from a safe distance. Check the dog for fang marks, and remember that the dog may have been struck more than once. If you discover a bite on the dog's leg, wrap a snug constricting band just above the bite, taking care not to pull it too tight. Finally, try to keep the dog as still as possible, while you transport it to an animal hospital for treatment, which may include antivenom.