There is strong evidence from a large number of Australian cases that a massive injection of vet-grade vitamin C solution will save a dog (...or an Alpaca!) which has been bitten by a venomous snake. I first became aware of this through a 2-page article in the aussie Shooters Journal about 15 - 20 years ago, and it has never been discredited to my knowledge. If I can lay my hands on the article on the weekend I'll toss it up on the web.

An internet search using key-words like "snake bite + dogs + vitamin c" will give opinions on both sides of the topic. The nay-sayers usually suggest that the snake may not have envenomated during the bite, at which point the supporters usually ask "why then was my dog lying on its side, convulsing, and frothing at the mouth?"! Feel free to form your own opinion of course. The bottom line is that in most cases of serious snake-bite, the hunter and his dog are a long way from help and there is nothing to lose by trying the vitamin c injection, if you decide to carry the juice.

We have the world's top 10 most venomous snakes in this country, and 21 out of the top 25 in the world (Reference). Gun-dogs are always at risk, whether pointing, retrieving, or bailing pigs. It's a serious concern.

Begs the question of course, would it work for humans? Any volunteers...?!