General News
20 October, 2022
Vet warns of snake bite dangers as weather warms
After reeling from the impact of last week’s flooding, there’s a new threat pet owners need to be on the lookout for — snakes. With warmer conditions rolling in, the Maryborough Veterinary Practice has seen snake bite cases go up. “Now is...
After reeling from the impact of last week’s flooding, there’s a new threat pet owners need to be on the lookout for — snakes.
With warmer conditions rolling in, the Maryborough Veterinary Practice has seen snake bite cases go up.
“Now is when the snakes are active,” practice co-owner Dr James Chadwick said.
“It’s been a little bit late this season and the reason is probably the weather, it’s been very wet. In the past week though we’ve had several snake bites.
“Partially because the floods have pushed things up, and it’s warmer now.”
Dr Chadwick said that as there could be a significant increase in case numbers later this season it was important to remember how lethal these bites are.
“They can absolutely kill, it doesn’t matter the size of the dog. A snake injects approximately enough venom to kill a 500-kilo animal,” he said.
And they can also bite deep into your wallet.
Anti-venom required to treat pets can be very expensive. Depending on the type of care required, one vial could cost anywhere between $500 to $1000.
But Dr Chadwick said time is of the essence, for the recovery of your pet, and your final bill.
“It depends on how quickly we get them, if they come in and they’re conscious and they’re breathing, and their heart is beating adequately that bill is a lot less,” he said.
“We always advise — if you’ve seen your dog get bitten by a snake or you’ve seen them interacting with a snake, come to the vet.
“Time is critical particulary in dogs.”
Some common snake bite symptoms in dogs include vomiting, dilated pupils, seizures, trouble breathing and paralysis.
Cats can exhibit similar signs but the onset of symptoms is longer.
While going straight to the vet is the best thing you can do, there are certain steps you can take to prevent an encounter between your pet and a snake, according to Gianni Hodgson, operator of Hodgson’s Snakes Rescue and Removal.
He says keeping spaces clutter free is important.
“Anything that something can get under and hide quite easily is generally a no-go in the areas your pets regularly go to,” he said.
Placement of water and food bowls is also crucial — with indoors being ideal.
“If you’ve got a water bowl for your cat or your dog outside, there’s always going to be water there which means frogs, snakes, and lizards will learn there’s always water there and they’ll come and go to that water source very regularly. Then it’s just a matter of time before they cross paths,” Mr Hodgson said.
Although making a property snake-proof is next to impossible, Mr Hodgson recommends making sure everything is clean and tidy in preparation for the upcoming season.