snakebite

[metelliana]

Will nonvenomous snakes, local to NC, leave puncture wounds?

[blue02hd]

Was it carrying a knife?

[Team Sergeant]

Was it carrying a knife?

LOL

Most all snakes have fangs that will leave a nasty bite mark......


http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/herps_of_nc/snakes/snakes.html

[metelliana]

Was it carrying a knife?

I doubt the snake was, but my son may have been. The point is, he has two perfect puncture wounds on his arm from a snakebite. Will a nonvenomous snake leave those marks?

[Team Sergeant]

I doubt the snake was, but my son may have been. The point is, he has two perfect puncture wounds on his arm from a snakebite. Will a nonvenomous snake leave those marks?

I don't think a nonvenomous snake would leave just two fang marks.

Also something to remember, some venomous snakes do possess the ability "not" to inject venom.

This is not the time of year for snakebites in NC..... not unless it was at someone elses house.

There is a picture here (below) of what I mean:

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/NR_WD_007.pdf

getting bit by a nonvenomous snake would leave a row of teeth marks, not fang marks.

[blue02hd]

I doubt the snake was, but my son may have been. The point is, he has two perfect puncture wounds on his arm from a snakebite. Will a nonvenomous snake leave those marks?

Sorry brother, I guess I couldn't resist that. We'll blame it on the eggnog.

I can think of many things that can leave perfect puncture marks on your sons arm. Puppies are the first to come to mind. If the area around the punctures have not began to swell, redden, and become inflamed you maybe in the clear.

If your boy is younger, you may want to have a nurse check it out either way.

[longrange1947]

How far apart are the wounds? I ask as it may not have been a snake. If it is a snake, treat as if it were poisonous. Do not pass go, do not ask anymore questions, go directly to the ER. Chances are very strong that the bite was a defensive "dry bite" (as alluded to by TS), at this time of year, but you can not be sure.

Most snakes are very inactive at this time of year, but the crazy temps may have awoken one for a bit.

I hope all turns out well for this Christmas day. :)

[Surgicalcric]

You have been given solid advice from TS and LR1947; I would follow it to the letter.

Hope all works out well.

Crip

[FMF DOC]

I know it's unseasonably warm in NC but really not the time of the year for snakes to be out & about...

[Team Sergeant]

Depending on the size of the puncture wounds I'd also be looking for a large spider? You got any bananas in the house? Or anything purchased in Central-South America?

[Richard]

MOO - go to the ER and have it checked and cleaned. A tetanus shot is probably advisable anyway due to the punctures. This time of the year a 'warning' or 'dry' bite is not uncommon. Always remember there doesn't have to be 2 punctures when hit by a poisonous snake--sometimes they only get you with 1 fang. Be cautious and be safe.

Richard's $.02 :munchin

[Doczilla]

I agree with other statements about figuring out if it was really a snake. Snakebites don't really need prophylactic antibiotics, but bites that break the skin from mammals often do (cats, in particular). Depending on where on the arm/hand the bite is (i.e., near tendon sheaths) I might prescribe them anyway. Tetanus booster is recommended if not up to date. Any sign of redness, swelling, localized pain means that there is either envenomation (early after the bite) or infection (later), and evaluation is necessary. If this was someone's exotic pet snake or lizard, all bets are off, and it could be anything.

There's a reason that most snake and animal bites occur in males and on the hands and arms. Generally, the patient is messing with wildlife in a way that they shouldn't be.

'zilla

[metelliana]

I appreciate all the replies. My son is fine, he was actually bit a while back. It was definitely a snakebite because he caught the snake, but was later made to let it go. He was also at a friends house when all of this took place so I didn't know about the bite until well after the fact. He has a pet corn snake and a bite from it looks nothing like the one on his arm. It is two perfect puncture marks approx. 1/2 in. wide maybe a little smaller. There isn't any infection and it hasn't caused any problems, except maybe some anxiety for my part. My son swears that the snakes (there were three of them) were non venomous, but I had always thought that only venomous snakes had fangs to leave that particular type of mark.

[Team Sergeant]

I appreciate all the replies. My son is fine, he was actually bit a while back. It was definitely a snakebite because he caught the snake, but was later made to let it go. He was also at a friends house when all of this took place so I didn't know about the bite until well after the fact. He has a pet corn snake and a bite from it looks nothing like the one on his arm. It is two perfect puncture marks approx. 1/2 in. wide maybe a little smaller. There isn't any infection and it hasn't caused any problems, except maybe some anxiety for my part. My son swears that the snakes (there were three of them) were non venomous, but I had always thought that only venomous snakes had fangs to leave that particular type of mark.

One of the best "herpetologist" in the world died by a snake he thought was harmless. Corn snakes do not have fangs, but pit vipers do and about 1/2 inch apart. Your son's friend doesn't happen to belong to a religion sect that uses rattlesnakes for religious purposes?

Rattlesnake religion

Ritual possession in a Southern Appalachian religious sect

Aspects of the Holy Ghost religion: the snake handling sect of the American Southeast

http://www.loc.gov/folklife/guides/BibSnakeHandling.html

[metelliana]

I'm 100% positive my son was the antagonist.