A frightening interaction between four dogs and a venomous snake became the owner's worst "nightmare."

Around 10 p.m. last Tuesday, Instagram user @thelilruffhouse heard alarming barks coming from the fenced-in yard. Her husband and she rushed outside to find the cause of the noise, which is when they discovered four of the family's dachshunds had been bitten by a copperhead snake outside their Texas home.

"I knew immediately they had something like a snake or possum because they get this shrill, excited bark, which is why I immediately closed the doggie door, and when my dogs hear that snap, they are trained to come inside," the owner told Newsweek via Instagram. "I ran outside with a flashlight and Cricket alerted to where the little copperhead was. My husband came out and killed it."

Almost immediately, their small dog Cora started throwing up and having a reaction, she said. Alarm bells went off in her head. She knew her dog had been bitten.

"And Foxy was swelling up in the muzzle, and Cleo ran under my desk and tried to bury under the beds, so I knew she was bitten too," she said.

Meanwhile, Cricket wouldn't stop barking until the owners knew where the snake was hiding, coiled up along the fence. From there, everything happened quickly, the owner wrote in the June 22 Instagram video posted to the account @thelilruffhouse.

Screenshots from a June 22 Instagram video of dachshunds recovering after being bit by a venomous snake in the backyard. @thelilruffhouse/Instagram

Cora started convulsing, fell limp on her side and was unconscious. Cleo and Foxy's muzzles became swollen. Cricket, the one who alerted the owners, showed slight swelling and glassy eyes.

The couple rushed the dogs to the emergency vet, where they received the news that Cora was lucky to be alive. It came down to a heartbreaking reality: try initial lifesaving measures, but if she started to suffer or rapidly decline, they would need to let her pass as peacefully and painlessly as possible.

Three of the dogs have recovered, but Cora's treatment is more detailed. She received two rounds of antivenom, and two pages worth of medications and treatments within the first 24 hours.

The team treated her for anaphylactic shock, an allergic reaction most commonly caused by foods, insect stings, snake bites, medications or vaccinations, an article from Veterinary Partner reported.

"Cora will need a follow-up bloodwork after she's completed the 30 days of Denamarian liver support supplement," the owner said.

Viewer Reactions

Within four days of posting, the TikTok video reached over 211,000 views and 8,513 likes. Viewers collectively sighed with relief knowing the dogs were looking up.

"I'm so glad the babies are okay," wrote one user.

Another added: "Omg, so sorry for all of you, this is terrifying. So happy they're all on the mend."

A third echoed: "Those poor babies. I pray they are feeling better today. So much pain."