Snake Bit Trick

This is the first time I've dealt with snake bite in anything much less one of my horses. I can tell you it is nothing you want to deal with. It's going to be a long road to complete recovery and will likely be months before he can be ridden. Today is day 2. 

I discovered Trick yesterday morning not acting right at all. The swelling was not real pronounced so we didn't see the bite marks on his nose until yesterday afternoon.  They were not visible when the veterinarian was here. Everything progressed throughout yesterday.  His eyes and tongue were so yellow (jaundice) thst it looked like a bright yellow fire. The treatment for snake bite is supportive care such as banamine, sedative to keep them calm, antibiotics and plenty of water if they are drinking, which he was. If they aren't then it's IV fluids. Trick was unaware of his surroundings,  unresponsive to stimulation and was randomly striking out, almost falling over when being forced to move, would not lead, would kick out hard with his right hind leg. He was flinging his head and he knocked me to the ground a few times from his random body fits. We finally got him to the roundpen (about 15 to 20 minutes) because he could not walk in a straight line and someone had to push him from behind while I pulled from the front, then rested him, then more push/pull until we finally got him there. Vet loaded him up with meds, they do not use antivenom on grown healthy horses. He remained on sedatives until his last dose this morning, is on banamine twice a day for 3 days and on antibiotics twice a day until further notice. He was bitten on his nose. One hole by nostril snd one in the middle of his nose. We still have some concerns but todsy he is much better.

Below: yesterday after jaundice set in. His tongue was also jaundice which means it was affecting his liver

Below: Trick barely able to stand and moving is not an option unless it was one of his fits of striking and kicking

Trick is no longer having neurological attacks, no striking or kicking today and the jaundice is considerably lighter today. He is drinking a lot more water now and he is not flinging his head anymore.  He is no longer ataxic at all. He is not laying down today like he was yesterday.  

Below is Trick today, Sunday, which is day 2 of snake bite. 

I've spoken to the vet twice since being here and we are going the right direction even though its far from over.

His recovery will take months and we have yet to see what we are dealing with as far as necrosis on his nose. Our hope is that we got meds and support in him fast enough to minimize or head off necrosis.  
He is so much better today he put his front hoof in his fresh water to play in it today. 
With the exception of swelling, he is pretty much back to his old self. 
I will be staying home to keep an eye on him just to be safe. He will remain pulled up from the pasture indefinitely until we know extent of damage to both his insides as well as his face.