Coral snake attack puts puppy in peril

Could have titled it "Unfortunate Bad Luck That a Coral Snake Wandered into Home and Bit Dog" but that doesn't sell papers. The last time this happened was when? The pictures of the "victim" sure doesn't help the plight of snakes in the neighbourhood.

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Coral snake attack puts puppy in peril
By WILL VASH

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

DELRAY BEACH — Roxy, an 11-month-old dachshund from Delray Beach, was fighting for her life Monday afternoon after a coral snake bite left her paralyzed.

The 9-pound puppy, owned by Jeremy and Alethea Brooks of Delray Beach, was spending Monday night at PetPB Animal Emergency and Advanced Imaging Center of Palm Beach in Boynton Beach after being treated during the day at Delray Beach Veterinary Hospital.

Dr. Sidney Lehr of the veterinary hospital said Roxy was showing "positive" signs after coral venom antidote was administered, but it was too early to tell if the canine would pull through.

"The bite is toxic to the nervous system. It paralyzes the body," Lehr said. "I'm cautiously optimistic right now."

Jeremy Brooks said that he and his wife noticed problems with the dog about 9 a.m. Sunday morning and immediately rushed her to PetPB. They live in a neighborhood near the Delray Beach municipal golf course.

"She started vomiting really bad, getting disoriented," Brooks said. "It just became worse and worse."

When they returned home, the couple was looking around the house for the cause of their dog's illness when the intruder made itself known.

"I look down and there's a coral snake in our living room," Brooks said.

After dispatching the snake with a shovel, Brooks went on the Internet and looked up the symptoms of a coral snake bite.

"Everything fit," Brooks said. "I immediately called the vet."

Since then, the couple, who work at the Town Center mall in Boca Raton, have acted as an impromptu ambulance service, shuttling their beloved pooch from the overnight animal care center to Lehr's office.

They also made a frantic drive to pick up the hard-to-find antivenin from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials.

After dropping off Roxy at PetPB Monday night, Jeremy Brooks said if the puppy remains paralyzed for much longer, the couple may have to give up the fight.

"If she's not well soon, we just don't have the money," Brooks said. "We're hoping and praying it doesn't get that far."

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