According to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, cottonmouths are venomous, semi-aquatic snakes that are usually 4 feet in length, but can grow to over 6 feet long. Cottonmouths, also called water moccasins, are normally not aggressive but will stand their ground if challenged and may bite a curious or aggressive dog. Like humans, dogs are vulnerable to a cottonmouth's venom. Recognizing the symptoms of a cottonmouth's bite can ensure your dog receives treatment quickly, preventing tissue and organ damage and in severe cases, death.
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Bite Site Symptoms
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Copperheads are part of the pit viper family of snakes. Pit vipers have heat-sensing pits located between their eyes that allow them to sense changes in temperature as small as one degree Celsius. This ability permits them to strike accurately at a heat source warmer than the surrounding air, such as a dog. A cottonmouth will bite and hold smaller prey in its mouth, but strikes and releases larger prey. Cottonmouths have been known to strike more than once, and one symptom of a bite is the presence of two fang punctures in the dog's skin, wherever the snake has struck.
Cottonmouth venom is hemotoxic, which means that the venom destroys red blood cells. Because of this effect, a cottonmouth bite will hemorrhage into the tissue surrounding the bite, causing swelling or development of a lump, redness and eventually tissue death. You may also notice blood oozing from the fang punctures. According to the web site DoctorDog, the bite site will also be extremely painful to the animal.
Immediate Bite Symptoms
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Lethargy is an early symptom of a copperhead bite A dog will yelp when bitten, and as the venom enters its system, will grow restless. The dog may limp if it was bitten on the leg, or shake its head if bitten on the muzzle or neck. Early symptoms of copperhead bites include panting, drooling, pupil dilation and general lethargy. You may notice that your dog has difficulty standing or walking due to weakness or loss of muscle control.
Later Symptoms
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As the venom spreads through the dog's system, PetPlace.com notes that its gums will turn white and the amount of weakness the dog experiences will increase, leading to collapse if the bite is left untreated. Depending on the amount of venom the dog received, it may suffer diarrhea, vomiting and become unresponsive due to shock. It may also suffer seizures or muscle tremors and slower breathing.
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