Hi gang...

We've had a time with Cody (our 14 y.o.) over the past few days. Somehow, and we haven't figured out how, he was bitten by a snake. Now Cody doesn't go outside. He's not as nimble as the other dogs. His back feet knuckle under and he's quite deliberate when he does walk, so we keep a tight watch on him. Well...I noticed the other night his eye was swelling. Then a couple of hours later, his cheek swelled. And then I found a mass in his neck. We went directly to the Animal ER and they gave him some drugs with directions to watch him and give him Benedryl.

Well, today when I came home from work, his face had a huge abcess and was full of pus and blood. I ran him directly over the the Animal ER again. They shaved his face so they could get a good look at it. Two fang marks just as pretty as you please. They aspirated it and flushed it really good. They didn't have to sedate him until they started flushing it. He's sleeping it off in his crate now. He looks pitiful. They gave us some augmentin and suggested Rimadyl if we had any.

This may not be over yet. The vet says it's not uncommon to have more necrosis of the tissue around the bite. And to be prepared for that. Fortunately, it hasn't necrosed inside his cheek. We hoping that doesn't happen because that would open a whole new can of worms.

Your good thoughts, healing energies and prayers for our little Cody are greatly appreciated.