Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay this is pretty lame but my mom is making me do it...she recently read that Western Hognoses are venemous, this is a proven fact, no arguement there from me, however she is worried that if I get bit I might have an allergic reaction to the venom. I tried to convince her that the chances of that are slim to none but to no avail. Could someone please post a response stating that W. Hognoses rarely ever bite and when the do their venom is not fatal...

Thanks in advance,
Ralph

P.S. I just got my lil' western hog two weeks ago and I absolutely love him, he is a great "handling" snake, he never bites and he took a F/T pinky with out a second of hesitation...I really love him and will not get rid of him so I just need this to prove to her...
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R&M Reptile and Amphibians

If I were to get bit, and I was to have an alergic reaction to the venom, would I most certainly die? Would a hospital be able to do anything for me, basically I'm looking for information on what would happen if this one in a trillion situation ever did happen...Thanks again and again
Ralph
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R&M Reptile and Amphibians

The only part of a hognose bite that would be dangerous would be an allergic reaction. Otherwise it's not dangerous at all. The odds of being allergic to hognose venom are probably like that of being allergic to bees. It's rare, but it could happen. Allergic reactions are very treatable, but the crucial part is getting treatment in time. It's not the 'venom' they would be treating, just your immune system's overreaction to it, so they treat it the same way they'd treat someone who was reacting to peanuts or something.
I personally don't worry about my Western, I'd have to be trying really really hard to get him to bite me. He never has. And he hates me! But it seems some individuals bite more readily than others.

True, they hardly ever do bite. However, I happen to have one that does. There was a discussion about this a few weeks back with no concrete conclusions ever drawn. I guess it is possible that one could have an allergic reaction to a bite although I dont think one has been recorded and no one has ever died from a bite. I have had no ill effects from my snake at all. I guess bottom line is something could happen but nothing ever has. You probably have a better chance of getting stung by a bee and having an allergic reaction so I dont worry about it too much. Good luck, EP
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Occupants not paying rent:
7 balls
2 corns(normal, candy cane)
1 pueblan milk
1 everglades rat
1 cal. king
1 gray band king
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2 leopard geckos
2 fish, 1 snail
1 pac man frog
1 rat
5 cats

yea..i have a couple w.hogs and ive been bitten tryin to feed them before and so has my friends..nothing has happend..i just didnt worry about it..but like the others said, it is possible for the allergic reaction..i wouldnt be worried about it but it would be nice to hold your hog more to make it more tame so it wont bite you..cya

I have had two bites from western hogs becouse of S.F.E's
(stupid feeding errors)and have had no reaction of any kind from them, however there are some fairly well documented cases of reactions from bites from westerns. you have to remember i handle lots of westerns every day so two bites over the last three years i have been breeding them is pretty good odds you will never have to worry.You need to be carefull any time you handle an animal!!!!!!!!
there are also people who have had reactions from the bites of garter snakes.
the real deal is if you dont smell like food you would have to prove to me that a western bit you in defense or "anger"
they hiss and jerk and do all they can to act tough, however they are 99.9% bluff (unless you smell like food).
its their personality that makes them so great!
have fun and be carefull with any pet you own.
Chris
Hoosier Reptiles

It is NOT a proven fact they are venomous, not in the truest sense. Their secretions COULD cause a reaction. Even with the potential of a strong allergic reaction, you are completely capable of taking steps to reduce the chances of ever getting bitten. Their toxicity should not be a deciding factor on whether or not to keep one. Where I work, we keep both Easterns and Westerns for education programming and we have no worries. In fact, the W is used in our kindergarten classes because of his small size and gentle nature.

The link below is the authoritative document on this subject.
Click here for the link...

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*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

A very big thanks goes out to everyone that replied to this thread, thank you for your time, energy and promptness...This has convinced my mother and got her off of my back lol...I'm no newbie to snakes, nor reptiles as I've been keeping them for many many years, as far back as I can remember in fact, as I'm sure is the case with many of you, my fellow herpers...The only reason I needed this was to show her that they are not fatal if a reaction occurs, that was her concern...and my hog has to be one of the nicest if not the nicest snake I've ever owned, next to my Desert King, he NEVER bites, even when I SMELL LIKE FOOD (AFter I thaw out his pinks)...he doesn't even hiss, hood, strike with a closed mouth...nor feign death, one thing that I'm actually waiting to see!

Okay thanks again and again and again it is very much apprecited, enjoy your hogs and your other herps, I know I will!

For those of you who are interested in what I currently own I have 2.1 bearded dragons, 0.1 desert king, 1.1 honduran milk, 1.0 W. Hog, 1.0 bullmastiff, and 0.0.1 common snapper...and in the incubator i have 14 beardie eggs...

Thanks!
Ralph
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R&M Reptile and Amphibians

Chances are if you havnt seen any of the typical hog behavior, you wont see it at all. In my experience, only FRESH wc hogs do it. I may catch one that does it one day, and the next it is totally docile like it has been in captivity for years. Fresh hatchlings do it as well it seems. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

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