2006-06-08 11:38:21 · 8 answers · asked by soblesed06 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
First- understand that cottonmouths are more dangerous than copperheads. Copperheads rarely bite, and rarely inject much, if any, venom when they do. Their venom is also weaker.
Assuming you have an envenomated bite, several things will start to happen. Let's pretend this happened on your arm, and a doctor is not nearby.
The enzymes in the venom will begin to break down the blood and get carried through your body. As it is absorbed into the muscles, it will literally start to digest the muscle tissue.
You'll feel a localized pain and burning as your skin turns red and starts to swell. The degree that it hurts depends on the amount and toxicity of the venom- a Copperhead may not get too much worse than this.
The pain increases as the skin continues to swell- your skin will get shiny as it gets tighter and tighter. Your fingers will swell up into sausages, and you won't be able to move your fingers or hand as the swelling stiffens the arm. Pain level is now 8 or 9 out of 10.
The skin can split at this point, revealing the underlying tissues that are being digested away- lots of pus and fluids may gush out of the wound. The pain may actually decrease a bit at this point with the release of some of the pressure, but that is temporary as the nerves continue ot be attacked.
Secondary infections are a huge problem right now- exposed tissues, reduced immune response... danger danger danger!
If the skin does not split, the muscles and tissues will still be dissolved, and both the original venom and toxins caused by the digestion are now flowing in your body. Your heart is being stressed (and may also be being attacked by the venom), your blood is being broken down, other organs are stressing out.
The pain is climbing again, and may show itself in odd places- back pain is very common as several organs 'show' pain in the back.
Without treatment, you might die- but if you do, it will usually be because of the secondary infections. Snakebites from either of these species are rarely fatal, even untreated.
That does not mean you'll be OK.
Eventually, the venom will run its course. No more tissues will die, but your body is not strong enough to start rebuilding yet. Muscles will continue to atrophy, organs will take a while to start working right, the pain will diminish but not leave for a long time yet. You may experience organ failures as they become clogged with waste products- and that creates its own kind of pain.
After a while- several months to a year in most cases, things will start to improve, but some damage is permanent. The muscle originally bitten may well have dissolved to a fraction of its original size and will probably never grow back.
2006-06-09 04:42:49 · answer #1 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Initially you will feel a burning sensation followed by intense pain. Both the cottonmouth and copperhead snakes produce hemotoxin which is a tissue destorying venom. It is unlikely that you would die from either bite, but you could lose a finger, hand or have substantial scarring depending on how soon you can get treatment.
2006-06-08 11:56:21 · answer #2 · answered by xyz_gd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would think the actual bite wouldnt feel any different than any other snake but after about a minute or so you will be dead
actually i am unsure how long but i know their bites are typically fatal unless you get to the doctor in time
2006-06-08 11:42:50 · answer #3 · answered by jenzen25 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Wow, Thankss! I was asking myself the same question today
2016-08-22 23:29:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question
2016-08-07 23:18:39 · answer #5 · answered by Marnie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it hurts very bad..you must go to the hospital to get antivenon
2015-10-05 14:05:42 · answer #6 · answered by t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
painful
2006-06-08 11:42:50 · answer #7 · answered by UNKNOWN ONE 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i dont want to find out..
2006-06-08 11:51:33 · answer #8 · answered by janice t 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋