People are always asking what happens when bit by a western hognose and if they are venomous. Only a couple of people have reported being bit and the effects of it.
Tuesday (7/11), I was doing my normal feeding routine and I normally just pick the snake up out of the feeding container after it has ate its meal. I was feeding my largest hognose and went to wash my hands to get the mouse smell off my hand to put it back into its tub. Well, that didn't help. I went to grab it and it turned and latched onto my pinkie. It was definately a feeding response as it did not let go. I walked into the bathroom and stuck my hand and the snake under the sink with running cold water. It was trying to work its way around my finger to swallow it. The water began to get pretty darn cold and the snake unlatched mouth. I then pinched it behind the head and worked the bottom teeth out of my finger. Wow, do those rear fangs hurt! It seemed to chew on me for a few minutes before I could get it off, working the fangs into my finger.
5:42pm - Got the snake off my finger, and put her back into her tub. I was bleeding very bad from the two fang punctures. I , then, took two Benadryl and flushed the bite out with cold water.
This picture was taken right after I flushed the bite out.
5:57pm - My pinky began to swell and the swelling is working its way into my pinky knuckle.
6:22pm - Swelling is working its way into my knuckles. My ring finger is now swollen. My hand began to itch very bad, mostly around the bite.
6:32pm - My knuckles are now swollen.
6:50pm - Swelling is now going into my lower hand. Thumb, Index, and middle finger are not completely swollen.
Here is a close up of the wound
7:40pm - Swelling has slowed down alot, but the rest of my fingers and thumb are becoming swollen.
11:57pm - Hand is completely swollen
Day 2 (7/12) - Swelling has worked its way into my forearm. I am going to the doctor to see if they can give me something for swelling and so I do not get an infection. I was given an antibiotic shot and a steriod shot in the hip to help fight the swelling. Doctor prescribed me an oral antibiotic. The doctor was concerned that I may end up getting Compartment Syndrome.
Evening of Day 2 - Swelling seems to be reducing very slowly, but has reduced enough I can move my fingers again.
Day 3 (7/13) - Swelling has went down noticeably, I am now able to use my hand although it is still swollen some. I now have some redness on my hand. It is slowly improving.
It seems that in a day or two my hand will be back to normal. I will keep you all updated.
Tuesday (7/11), I was doing my normal feeding routine and I normally just pick the snake up out of the feeding container after it has ate its meal. I was feeding my largest hognose and went to wash my hands to get the mouse smell off my hand to put it back into its tub. Well, that didn't help. I went to grab it and it turned and latched onto my pinkie. It was definately a feeding response as it did not let go. I walked into the bathroom and stuck my hand and the snake under the sink with running cold water. It was trying to work its way around my finger to swallow it. The water began to get pretty darn cold and the snake unlatched mouth. I then pinched it behind the head and worked the bottom teeth out of my finger. Wow, do those rear fangs hurt! It seemed to chew on me for a few minutes before I could get it off, working the fangs into my finger.
5:42pm - Got the snake off my finger, and put her back into her tub. I was bleeding very bad from the two fang punctures. I , then, took two Benadryl and flushed the bite out with cold water.
This picture was taken right after I flushed the bite out.
5:57pm - My pinky began to swell and the swelling is working its way into my pinky knuckle.
6:22pm - Swelling is working its way into my knuckles. My ring finger is now swollen. My hand began to itch very bad, mostly around the bite.
6:32pm - My knuckles are now swollen.
6:50pm - Swelling is now going into my lower hand. Thumb, Index, and middle finger are not completely swollen.
Here is a close up of the wound
7:40pm - Swelling has slowed down alot, but the rest of my fingers and thumb are becoming swollen.
11:57pm - Hand is completely swollen
Day 2 (7/12) - Swelling has worked its way into my forearm. I am going to the doctor to see if they can give me something for swelling and so I do not get an infection. I was given an antibiotic shot and a steriod shot in the hip to help fight the swelling. Doctor prescribed me an oral antibiotic. The doctor was concerned that I may end up getting Compartment Syndrome.
Evening of Day 2 - Swelling seems to be reducing very slowly, but has reduced enough I can move my fingers again.
Day 3 (7/13) - Swelling has went down noticeably, I am now able to use my hand although it is still swollen some. I now have some redness on my hand. It is slowly improving.
It seems that in a day or two my hand will be back to normal. I will keep you all updated.
