Bite protocols (Joe Pittman)

[Sylvias]

I recently purchased a Bite Protocol from Joe Pittman at the Florida Snakebite Institute for my pokie (because it's venom is a bit more intense even than other pokies!) and it is excellent! Not only does it include general information about the species but also the venom, bite symptoms, at home treatment, and clinical treatment. Lists everything from antibiotics to muscle relaxants. I think the only possible thing that is left to add is my own personal medical history.
He definitely does good work and for anyone keeping anything venomous, his protocols are definitely worth it!
And when I say worth it... they aren't even super expensive.... I paid a grand total of 6.75 for mine. $5 for the protocol itself and $1.75 shipping.
When I start keeping more hots I will definitely be getting my protocols from him.

[Sylvias]

i wasn't sure if this should be in the hots section...arachnid section... or classifieds lol but most of his protocols are for hot snakes so figured here was best....

[Donnie_K]

why don't you post up some of this treatment? I'm curious to see what kind of antibiotics combat Pokie venom? and what exactly was shipped to you?

[keithdude6848]

Unless it's quite amazing it seems a bit pricy to me.

[Sylvias]

Donnie... the only thing that was sent to me was paper -.- I don't know why you seem to think I got an antivenin kit or something,.... it's a protocol... it's to tell the doctors what to do in the event I get bitten, because they aren't just going to know off what a Poecilotheria striata is and what to do when it bites someone. Yeah there's no antivenin for it but there are drugs to fight the symptoms and make it easier to pull through.
Antibiotics are to prevent secondary infection btw -.- not to treat the damn bite.

[keithdude6848]

Well I guess it's worth the 5 bucks...But what confuses me is why they don't save you the 2 dollars and e-mail it to you so you can proceed to print it?

[Donnie_K]

or put it in an envelope and mail it. I want to know what is says though, how come you won't share? I honestly can't imagine that the information on it is as great as you think it is. I've researched these bites a lot since I started keeping pokies and there just isn't much that a doctor can give you. I want to know what this guy is saying should be given. Does it call for anything besides muscle relaxers or steroids and these antibiotics? Because that's the information we can get simply by googling poecilotheria bite report. I'm sorry, you're putting up a positive review about a guy that charged you 2 bucks to ship you a piece of paper. You obviously got had on the shipping. If this has any valuable information, then it's information the rest of the tarantula community is not aware of, and should be. Instead of getting mad, just stop and think about what I'm saying. I'm not just saying it to argue, I'm saying it because it's what makes sense to me.

[keithdude6848]

It also confuses me that they can think they have it down pat.   From what I've read each person reacts differently.

[Sylvias]

Ya know... I try to do something productive and give a good guy a shout out, try to actually post something good on this forum for once... I'll remember to stop trying.

It is a BITE PROTOCOL. These are popular among hot keepers, and yes a lot of them are home made because it is all info that is out there somewhere, with this one the difference is that all the bad info has been filtered out and it has been organized into a neat and easy to read paper that is fool proof for the doctors. The average keeper doesn't really have the off hand knowledge to even know where to start looking for this information so it can take them a long time to compile the same thing that Joe did for me in about a week. So I guess if you want to say it's just a matter of laziness... yeah, I suppose it is. But it's also a matter of accuracy... google searching brings up a hell of a lot of false information that looks true and can take some time to figure whats good and whats not and if you just don't know.... well then you just don't know and your trusting the internet. I'd rather put my trust into the director of the Florida Snake Bite Institute....

[Sylvias]

i am not going to copy the entire paper here but I will post a couple of the basic things listed in the medical care.

Some of the first things for the doctors to do when the person gets to the hospital:
"establish a peripheral IV site in the unaffected extremity, and draw blood for the following laboratory tests: a. CBC wit differential, b. serum electrolytes, BUN/creatinine, phosphorus, magnesium. c. creatinine kinase (CK)- similar species have been recorded as causing myolysis. In severe cases requiring admission, consider serial CK levels to monitor for developing myolysis. d. Troponin I for all cases involving chest pain
Collect urine for urinalysis (macroscopic and microscopic analysis) Should include analysis for: a. Free protien. B. hemoglobin. C. Myoglobin
Perform electrocardiogram in all cases of chest pain or significant cardiac history.

Administer a Tetanus toxoid booster as needed

Prophylactic antibiotic use is controversial but a broad system antibiotic should be considered for 7 days."

Medications:
"The following medications are often ineffective when used alone, and combination therapy should be considered.

Pain meds:
Morphine (followed by some info)

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) (followed by info)

Benzodiazepines
administer benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety associated with the bite, and relaxation of excessive muscle cramping and spasms. May need to be used in conjunction with other muscle relaxants.
Diazepam (valium)
Lorazepam (ativan)

Muscle relaxants:
Methocarbamol (Robaxin) (followed by info)
Calcium
Dantrolene (dantrium)

The paper finishes with general monitoring care while the person is in the hospital and provides Joe's full information should they need to contact him for any more info.