Latest news with #Murphey
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chihuahua sent to Gilbert animal hospital after being bitten in the face by a rattlesnake
Veterinarians warned rattlesnakes and dogs shouldn't be friends after an incident sent a Chihuahua to a Gilbert hospital. 12-year-old Murphy was bitten by a venomous rattlesnake in April 2025, according to Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Center in Gilbert. Murphy was enjoying some outside time in his Gold Canyon backyard when his owner realized a rattlesnake had bitten the dog on the right side of his face. His face quickly began to swell, and Murphy's owner took him to the animal hospital where he was treated and received antivenom. Murphey responded well and went home with his owner the next day, according to the veterinary hospital in a news release. "Dogs are at an elevated risk for rattlesnake bites because of their curious nature,' said Dr. Coyne Hopey, emergency and critical care resident at the animal hospital. "If your pet is bitten by a rattlesnake, immediate medical attention is critical. Severe or life-threatening symptoms may occur immediately after the bite or within a couple of hours." Snake bites for dogs are life-threatening, painful and typically require numerous visits to a vet to treat, according to the hospital. Pet owners should take precautions to prevent a snakebite in the first place, such as keeping a short leash on a dog when walking in areas prone to snakes, the animal hospital said. Avoiding many of those areas all together, such as dense brush, rocky and grassy areas, is an even better practice, said the animal hospital. If a rattlesnake is spotted, calmly back away until out of the snake's striking distance, about the length of the snake's body, according to the veterinary hospital. Immediate symptoms for pets included swelling, restlessness, panting or drooling. Severe symptoms could include lethargy, weakness, muscle tremors, diarrhea, seizure and slowed or difficult breathing, the animal hospital said. If a dog is bitten, carry the dog to a vehicle and limit it from moving, as it will prevent the spread of the venom, according to the animal hospital. Rattlesnakes typically want nothing to do with humans, but it is important to stay prepared in case of a run-in. Dr. Frank LoVecchio, medical toxicologist at Valleywise Health, recommended the following steps when dealing with a rattlesnake bite: Remove any close-fitting or tight items. The bite area will begin to swell as the snake's venom begins trying to digest blood, tissue, and muscles. Do not move the bite area. The more it moves, the worse it hurts. Elevate the affected body part to prevent the venom from pooling in one part of the body. Go to the hospital immediately. Call ahead to make sure the facility has antivenom. Call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-221-1222 for further guidance. A toddler was bitten twice on the foot by a rattlesnake at her home in Florence May 16. 15-month-old Clara Reed was airlifted to the hospital where 30 vials of antivenom were administered, and she was placed on a breathing tube until May 19. Doctors removed the entire top of her foot and part of two of her toes, according to a GoFundMe set up to aid the family and provide updates on Reed's recovery. Reed's skin graft surgery was scheduled for June 16, the GoFundMe said. In 2024, the state poison center reported a 4% increase in the number of rattlesnake bites, the total being 182 bites. The number of cases peaked during the months of August and September, the poison center said. Of the 182 reported bites in 2024, 107 cases were reported in Pima County, 22 were reported in Cochise County and 12 in Mohave County. Zero cases were reported in Maricopa County, despite having the largest population in the state. The Republic's Mary Jo Pitzl contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dog bitten in the face by a rattlesnake; taken to Gilbert hospital
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Walker County community rallies around 4th grader battling brain tumor
CORDOVA, Ala. (WIAT) — When Olivia Henderson blew out the candles on her birthday cake, she had no idea her life was about to change. Just two days after she turned 10, on Jan. 15, doctors told her she had a skull-based tumor. 'She turned 10, and then she got sick that next night,' Diane Murphey, Olivia's aunt, said. 'Olivia has blown us all away because it's like you would never know that something is going on with her. We all have our moments where we're emotional, but she is just — she's just herself.' Murphey said Olivia had been sick over Christmas break but was otherwise a healthy 10-year-old looking forward to playing basketball at school for the first time. 'Just seeing her and her telling me, 'I'm not scared. Everything's going to be fine,' it makes me feel, while I'm nervous and I'm sad, we're all sad that she's having to go through this at such a young age,' Murphey said. 'I'm pretty sure any of us would take it on for her, so she didn't have to go through it, but it helps us to know that she's being brave, that we can also be brave and have the faith, too.' The Walker County community is rallying behind Olivia as she prepares for her first surgery on Wednesday. She is a fourth grader at Cordova Elementary School. 'And letting Miss Olivia know she's one of our favorite baby Blue Devils and how much we love her from the depths of our hearts,' an announcement over the intercom at Cordova Elementary said. Drone regulations could be coming to Alabama schools Murphey said the brain tumor has not dampened Olivia's spirits. She said Olivia's doctors and nurses at Children's of Alabama get a full taste of her personality and sense of humor. 'On her birthday, she's got like the funniest personality, so she decided her name was Barbara that day,' Murphey said. 'When [doctors and nurses] come in and they're like, 'Hey, Olivia.' She's like, 'My name's Barbara,' and so they call her Barbara or Queen, and sometimes she'll be like, 'I'm Karen now.'' Olivia got to see her classmates again Tuesday before the surgery, riding in style. The whole school put on pink, her favorite color, and paraded outside her limo with signs. 'She's going to love all the attention and knowing that everyone is supporting her and be grateful for that,' Murphey said. 'I don't think she'll ever forget it.' Murphey said because of the location of the tumor, doctors have not yet been able to biopsy it. 'Specialists from UAB and Children's are all working together, so they have [ear, nose and throat], neuro and all working together to develop a plan,' Murphey said. 'So when they actually go in to do the surgery, they'll also biopsy at the same time and then start the removal process.' A GoFundMe has been set up to help Olivia's family with medical costs, which can be found by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
