I carry the Sawyer sting and bite kit. Like many others in the forum I have used it with success on several insect,spider and even a rattlesnake envenomation. I just returned from a very frustrating experience. A 2 year old filly was bitten on the anterior cannon , 4" above the fetlock by a Pacific Diamondback. Identification was easy, what with 4' of snake in the corral. I collected the horse as the absent owner's DVM was summoned. First aid consisted of quickly washing the wound site with saline solution, applying vetwrap ( crepe stretch gauze) above and below the exposed bite and applying the suction unit. A substantial volume of fluid was removed and placed into a safe container. Respiratory,heart and temperature were taken and recorded.The DVM and assistant arrived. I briefed them on my efforts. The vetwraps were removed. I was lectured ( chastised) about ALL suction protocols being useless and ineffective. I am watching the obvious demarcation of envenomated and previously pressure bandaged soft tissue merge into increased swelling. I am at a loss. We summoned the DVM immedietely and performed non invasive first aid. Peanut, Beachdoc , Trustbox?

I am neither a vet or an MD, but it seems to me that the vet should have at least been glad that you made an effort to help. Even if the suction was ineffective, it could hardly be worse than inaction. Would he have preferred that you sit back and do nothing while you wait for him to show up to save the day, or maybe not bother to call him at all?

Some (thankfully not all) doctor types are so full of themselves that it is possible that this vet was just ticked off because you dared trod on his domain.

Just my two cents' worth...

Chris,

Had it been my kid (or horse etc.) and you did what you did, you would the the recipient of my gratitude, not the subject of a lecture...perhaps this vet is "not yet enlightened" regarding snakebites.

When I first read about the Sawyer kit here on ETS, I went around the web and other places and did a bunch of reading. What I found convinced me that the Sawyer kit is the way to go.

Hmmm...I'd really hate to be that DVM's familly member that got snakebit.....

Just my two cents, I heartily concur with (and echo) Tackdriver's take on this one.

Regards,
Comanche7