Website by
Southern Heart Ranch
Joyce Manuel
Please do not take any pictures or link to this site unless done so with  permission.
The pictures and information contained within this website are for reference only

They are only meant to be a guideline to help you. By no means am I a Veterinarian. There are many views on this subject and this represents mine from my own experience.
I am sharing with you what my horses have been through. You must take full responsibility for your horse and your own actions. You must decide for yourselves what is right for you and your horse. I can share my experiences with you, but you are responsible for your own horse and should call a Veterinarian in case of any emergency.
Below is the story of what happened.
Southern Hearts Valentines Darla, 4 year old mare 31"tall
Snake Bit Miniature Horse             photos included
Well if it isn't one thing its another! I swear life is like a roller coaster ride. Happy one day because of a birth of a foal and then down the next because some Rattler decides to whip the crap out of one of my mares!

When feeding the horses in the coral August 2,2006, Darla was in the run in shed and wouldn't come out. She is normally already standing at her bucket at the end of the coral by the time I even get the gate open.
When she turned around and looked at me my mouth just dropped in awe! Poor Darla's face was swollen on the left side. I thought she had been kicked till I looked closer!

Got the horses fed super fast and got her butt in the barn so I could check her out. She has 2 bite holes an inch apart just above the nostril (big rattler) and one inside the nostril, like the rattler took a second shot at her and only one fang connected! Big ouch! One of the holes is really bleeding and the Vet said thats good as really not all blood but drainage so let it drain. She is breathing fine.

So he then gave Banamine and Tetanus antitoxin and Pen.
So I had to keep her on the Banamine for 3 days and the Pen for 5 days.
She ate her breakfast really good, swollen face and all, no loss of appetite.
Photos below and more of the story.
(Photo Left) was when I first put her in the barn stall that morning.
(Photo right) Notice the swollen lip.
(Photo left) The 3 holes where Rattlesnake bit her.  Like I said above the snake had to have struck twice. But can only find 3 holes. Bite marks were 1 inch apart on the bridge of the nose.
(Photo Right & Bottom left) The more her face swelled up, the more it drained. But the Vet said let it drain as that was a good thing.
(Photo Right)
You can see the swelling in her lip, top of nose, jaw and about her eye.
It got to the point that I could no longer put the halter on her as it was to small to fit over her nose.. This was also my biggest halter I had and she is a very tiny mare.
(Photo Left) Very obvious that her face is swollen looking head on.
(Photo Right)
The Yellow on her nose is a Topical Antibacterial spray power.
(Photo Right) I had called the Vet as I was really starting to worry about all this drainage and swelling and the one hole that was first draining stopped as you can see in the photo and the one inside her nose was just gushing. The more I cleaned her up the more the drainage came and she was wiping her nose all over the stall and it was beginning to look like a crime scene.
The thought of loosing her was just horrifying.



Now in this picture also, its a good thing that she is draining and I told the vet that I no sooner clean her up and she's a mess again and he said that, that is good let it drain all it wants. Looks bad but for sure a good thing.
He felt that she was over the worst of it and is on to getting better. I prayed he is right.
(Photo Left) 5 days later
Today Aug 7,2006.
Darla is almost back to normal and looking great. Just a little bump on her nose now.



(Photo Right) The Rattle Snake was found and killed. Almost 3 feet long!
Note: drainage stopped and the swelling started to go down.
However just 33 days after the snake bite, Darla was indeed in foal and lost a filly.

But I still feel I did the best for Darla as she means alot to me. She can always have other foals. So I look at this as a happy ending as I still have my Darla.
Update:
Darla had the rest of 2006 off and was bred for a 2008 foal.
She is due in March 2008 I am so delighted!
2007