What Happened When ‘Nosy’ Golden Retriever Got Bitten by Rattlesnake

A dog owner has revealed what happened when her golden retriever couldn’t resist getting up close and personal with a rattlesnake.

Charlie, who is nicknamed Chuck, is a 4-month-old golden retriever who just loves making friends with everyone (and everything) he encounters. Unfortunately for him, this also includes rattlesnakes, who aren’t necessarily known for being so warm and welcoming.

Saylor Bendele, Charlie’s owner, told Newsweek that they live on a 200-acre ranch in Hondo, Texas, and they come across snakes from time to time. While Bendele knows better than to get too close, she thinks Charlie “stuck his nosy nose into a hole” and got bitten by a rattlesnake.

Poor Charlie was left with a very swollen snout for around three days as a result, which he wasn’t too happy about.

“He didn’t have any symptoms besides the horrible swelling,” Bendele said. “He was acting and breathing just fine the whole time, he just got super-fat in the face. Even when he got bitten, he was still acting normally. We definitely slowed him down and made him rest while the venom was circulating.”

Reactions to a snakebite can vary, and in some instances may even be fatal. The American Kennel Club (AKC) explains that it will depend on the dog’s size, the type of snake that bit them, how much venom was delivered, and where the bite occurred on the dog’s body.

Symptoms to look out for include vomiting, diarrhea, crying and hiding. Within minutes of the incident, swelling may appear, followed by bruising.

If a dog gets bitten by a snake, or if owners suspect a possible bite, they should take their pup to the vet for an antivenin shot. This is most effective when done immediately after the bite, but can still work hours, and even days, after.

The AKC explains that antivenom binds to the toxin and prevents it from damaging tissue cells. But it doesn’t come cheap, and can cost up to $800 per vial.

As luck would have it, Charlie had been given an antivenin shot just two days before he got bitten by the rattlesnake. He didn’t need to go again after the bite occurred because he was already prepared.

Bendele explained that her other dog was bitten in the face in the last year, so she knew exactly what to do when it happened to Charlie.

Bendele shared an adorable video on TikTok (@saylorsstyle) showing Charlie’s swollen face following the snake bite. In just a matter of days the video has gone viral, amassing more than 7.5 million views and 1.2 million likes on TikTok at the time of writing.

The sweet clip shows Charlie looking very somber with puffy cheeks as he lay beside his owner. It’s fair to say, he looked more chipmunk than golden retriever at the time.

The swelling in his face lasted for around three days, but it has subsided now. “He’s back to normal now and he’s the same little big man who we love,” Bendele said.

The online reaction to the video is beyond anything she imagined, as Bendele never thought her dog’s antics would generate so much attention.

“It’s weird knowing that millions of people have seen my dog, but it’s been fun. I love reading the comments and responding to people’s questions. We love our Charlie boy so much, and I appreciate all the love and comments wishing him a speedy recovery,” Bendele told Newsweek.

Since going viral, the video of Charlie has gained over 2,600 comments on TikTok. Many people sent their best wishes to the puffy pup, while others found his swollen appearance undeniably funny.

One comment reads: “He’s a Golden Capybara,” referring to the South American mammal.

Another TikTok user wrote: “He don’t wanna talk about it.”

Another person joked: “Why does he look like Louis Litt from Suits?”

While one commenter added: “Wishing a speedy recovery to Charlie.”

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