A dog has been left fighting for his life after suffering two bites while protecting his owner and canine siblings from a rattlesnake.
Maverick, an English bulldog, was attacked on two occasions by the western diamondback rattlesnake while playing in his garden in southern Arizona. His sibling, Finley, was bitten once on the cheek by the reptile, but has since been recovering well despite the fatal risk of such an encounter. Maverick is showing slower signs of improvement, and the shocking ordeal has left his owner feeling “heartbroken.”
“They were bitten and we were able to get them to put emergency vet within 30 minutes,” their owner, who asked to keep their identity private, told Newsweek. “The snake had come through our fence opening and our dogs did not really freak out until I freaked out.”
Finley, a grey-shaded Merle Frenchie, was hit once and responded to treatment quickly, with his owner saying that he showed significant improvement by the end of day one. Maverick, who sustained two bites to his face, has had a more challenging recovery and did not respond as quickly to the treatment provided.
“They spent one and a half days in the hospital and then were able to come home to continue to get well,” their owner said. “They are on the mend, and now we are just working on keeping the bite sites from getting infected as the venom left funnel-shaped holes in their faces.”
The incident, which has since gone viral on TikTok, showcases the aftermath of the ordeal and the dogs’ ongoing recovery. The video, which was shared to the platform under the username @maverick_peach_finley, captures Maverick and Finley wearing plastic braces around their necks and bandages over their bites. These braces are attributed to their recovery process, administered by the veterinary team.
The overlaid text on the video provides a chilling account of the early morning incident.
“Both Maverick and Finley were bitten by a rattlesnake that made it onto our backyard. We rushed them to the emergency vet and immediately started them on antivenom and blood transfusions,” their owner wrote.
@maverick_peach_finley
The dogs were quick to respond to the threat, despite having received rattlesnake avoidance training, a product of living in a state that is home to a variety of venomous snakes. Their owner said that Maverick was acting in defense of his owner and dog siblings, Finley and Peach, with the latter escaping the situation unscathed.
“Maverick has rattlesnake avoidance training and will always stay away from them, but was in this case acting in protection and trying to keep us safe,” the owner said.
Dr. Terry Fossum, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, spoke with Newsweek about the dangers of rattlesnake bites in dogs.
“These bites can be fatal,” she said. “Time is crucial and it is important to get your dog to a veterinarian for antivenom treatment as quickly as possible.
“Your dog has a high survival rate if the antivenom is administered in a timely manner. Don’t attempt at-home care. If your dog has been bitten or you suspect a rattlesnake bite, go to the closest veterinary clinic.”
Several factors can influence the survival rate of a dog bitten by a rattlesnake, as Fossum explained. These include the time to treatment, size of the dog, location of the bite, and the amount of venom injected. With prompt treatment, survival rates are generally high, ranging between 80 to 90 percent.
The rapid response of the owner, who managed to get Maverick and Finley to the emergency vet within 30 minutes, played a crucial role in their ongoing recovery.
“We’re heartbroken and hope tomorrow will bring us some better news,” their owner told viewers online. “We love [Maverick] for his loyalty and protectiveness.”
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