Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am curious as too what others have experienced. Last evening, I was moving a small 2', 3yr old Crotalus h. horridus and with the recent heat wave, it was very agitated. It struck through the screen of a 24" Neodesha (was loaned to a friend for a recent lecture) and the venom sprayed me on the right side of my face about 30" from the cage. It hit me in the right eye, right cheek and in my mouth.

Immediately I tried wiping it out of my eyes. While it didn't produce any severe buring, it did cause some bluriness and watery eyes...but that cleared up in about 1/2 hr. My right cheek was tingling, but my mouth went numb on the right side and my lips and the corner of my mouth were numb for an hour or so. It produced a tingling sensation like pins-n-needles when your foot falls asleep before the numbness.

Anyone else ever experience similar symptoms?

Matt

The same thing will happen to the whole body if that snake bites [the pins/needle sensation]
It must have some venom "A" since the eye had little tissue damage.
And the tingling sensation lasts a while if bit.
Iv had it several times after a bite.
bud

I recall a similar situation reported to me by another keeper about three years ago. I cannot recall all the details, and I want to say that he had either C.viridis or C.atrox strike a screen and project venom into his face and eyes. His reaction was severe redening of the eyes and burning if I recall correctly. I do not recall any medical treatment other than this fellow flushing the venom out of his eyes with lots of fresh water.

Spitting rattlesnakes, huh

I hope you're okay...

Tom
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

A few years ago I was hit with venom slung that way from an Eastern/Western diamondback cross I had just got from a guy getting out of snakes. It hit the right side of my face and went in my right eye. It stung my eye just a little tiny bit. I rinsed my eye out with water and the stinging was gone immediately. No blurred vision or anything after washing it out. I didn't have any reddening or tingling of the skin on my face at all. I keep a lot of Spitters, and I've been spit on a lot. I've always had safety glasses on, so I've never been hit right in the eye, but some mist has made it's way in. Flushing with water stopped the little bit of stinging. Spitter venom on my skin has never bothered me unless I was sweating. Then it would tingle a bit and turn a little red for a short time.

RC
Venom Street

Hi Randy,

You weren't the person I was thinking of as I wrote that message, but now that you refreshed my weak memory, I recall you relating that information to me when I came to visit. How are you and the dogs (the most excellently cared for and awesome dogs, BTW) getting along? I've been meaning to get back out to see you, but life just keeps getting in the way...

Someone dropped off two bull dog puppys on my doorstep two weeks ago... they wrecked 'em by docking the tails, but I won't hold it against the dogs... one seems like a real game little thing, but the sister is a bit timid.... it's good to see your name on the board.

Tom T
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

Is it true that beer will neutralize the effect of the venom superficially? I thought I read someone saying that on the forum. That was for spitting cobras, but wouldn't it work for crotalids also? Just curious if this was true or a wive's tale.
Kevin

I don't know...I've heard of several fluids such as milk, tomatoe juice, etc.

I just wiped it out with my sleeve. Since it caused no blindness....just watering, I didn't bother rinsing. Maybe should've but I was more concerned because the numbness in my mouth set in much quicker...within a few minutes..and had a prolonged effect..whereas the eyes cleared up pretty quickly.

Don't waste precious beer by pouring it on your burning eyeball!Pour it down your throat!
hahahahahahahhahahahahaha

While I don't know of any characteristic of beer that might neutralise the venom, flushing with any available (I've heard to use milk...yuk )liquid would be much better than leaving the venom in there....unless the only liquid available were more irritating than the venom.... or mucky old pond water full of bacteria, sand and the like....
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"