Quick actions of owners help save pet dogs from venomous snake bites

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – The owners of two curious puppies are thankful their dogs are now thriving after their canines took bites to the face by a cottonmouth water moccasin.

The horrifying incident was caught on camera in Pembroke Pines last weekend.

According to the owners, the dogs were in the family’s yard in the Silver Lakes community when one spotted the venomous snake.

Omar Rodriguez said he rushed the two dogs, named Harley and Mulan, to Advanced Veterinary Care in Davie.

It’s a move that very likely saved both animals.

Dr. Holly O’Hara treated the animals and said that timing is everything.

“That venom is going to start spreading and the three hallmark signs are going to get worse,” she said. “So bleeding, swelling and pain. So the quicker we get anti-venom in to neutralize that, which is going to be the best treatment, the better.”

Not all clinics carry anti-venom or can treat and save animals suffering from venomous snake bites.

Harley and Mulan’s owners said they’re so grateful to the staff at Advanced Veterinary Care.

O’Hara credits the family for moving so quickly and not waiting.

For tips on how to snake-proof your home and yard, click here.


About the Author

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.

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