Snake Bites

The Weather has changed and snakes are on the move again! 

Bites can happen in the blink of an eye, and the venom acts quickly. All snake bites or suspected snake bites should be treated as life-threatening. If your pet has been biten by a snake or you suspect they have been bitten, It is vital that you keep your pet as calm as possible and try limiting any movement including walking. Your pet should be transported to the veterinary clinic immediately - the sooner your pet is treated, the better their chances of survival are.

DO NOT try and catch the snake for ID or any other purpose, always keep a safe distance. Snake bites can occur year-round, but they are more often seen during the warmer months (Spring/Summer) as snakes are coming out of hibernation and venturing into yards.

If you are not close to a veterinary clinic and the bite was witnessed to have occurred on a limb, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage to that limb before transporting your pet to the clinic. A firm bandage should be applied over and around the bite site, this helps slow down the venom spreading to the heart.

Symptoms of a snake bite include:

• Sudden weakness followed by collapse, may be trembling.
• Paralysis, starting with the hind legs.
• Dilated pupils.
• Vomiting and/or drooling.
• Panting.
• Loss of bladder and bowel control.

There are many ways that we can work towards preventing the occurance of snake bites, sadly we cannot be 100% successfull in this matter. Some prevention methods include:

• Maintaining backyard - mowing grass and keeping gardens tidy.
• Remove piles of rubbish.
• Remove food sources that may attract rodents.
• Walk dogs on a lead to keep them away from bushy areas and stick to walking tracks.
• Try supervise pets when outside.