ATLANTA, Ga.–Cricket is an Atlanta Lab Rescue dog. Her owner, Justin Bates, gave her a second chance. Peachtree Hills veterinarian, Dr. Duffy Jones, gave her a third.
“One day she came back in favoring her leg after we let him out. Favoring turned into limping and limping turned into swelling so we knew something was up,” Bates said.
“When we tell people their dogs or cats may have been bitten by a snake, they’re surprised,” Dr. Jones said.
“We never saw a snake,” Bates said. “But we do… or we did… have a lot of Ivy.”
And that’s the key to the worst snake bite season vets across Georgia have seen in decades. The wet weather has allowed ivy and kudzu to flourish. And now, it’s Copperhead birthing season. 95% of bites in Georgia are from Copperhead snakes. “Copperheads are really good at living in urban areas. They’ve adapted very, very well,” Dr. Bates said.
Cricket became another city-dwelling dog bit by a copperhead. There’s been a spike, and now, a shortage in anti-venom.
“There is one company that makes it, and a lot of times it is in high demand,” Dr. Bates said.
A single anti-venom treatment for dogs can cost from $500 to $1,000 per treatment, and isn’t always used. It’s a different drug than the one used for humans, but some of the ingredients are the same. Since bites have been more common this year, the demand for those ingredients is higher.
Cricket’s leg swelled, the flesh started to die, and infection was on the way. Losing the leg was a real possibility.
“It took a lot of time, surgery, and changing of bandages to get to this point,” Dr. Jones said. He pointed to Cricket’s back paw. “See? We had to remove the last knuckle of his toe.”
Cricket was lucky…. again. But the conditions are right. Watch your step, or better yet: experts say clear that kudzu.