CAMDEN ADVERTISER‎ (Australia) 12 November 13 Treat snake bites quickly
It's that time of year again when we see cats and dogs with snake bites.
Pets who like to explore or have a strong prey drive are at risk of being poisoned by venom.
Commonly affected dogs are Jack Russell terriers, fox terriers and kelpies who instinctively like to hunt prey but it could be any breed.
The most common bites we see are red belly black snake and eastern brown snake bites. Occasionally, tiger snakes can be the culprits.
Clinical signs vary largely by the type of snake but also the amount of venom and whether the bite is directly into a blood vessel.
Red belly black snake venom has toxins that cause breakdown of red blood cells and muscle.
The big problems as a result of these toxins are sudden anaemia and broken down blood cells and muscle products.
The cells' by-products are damaging to the kidneys.
Brown snake venom tends to cause more neurological signs: collapse, shaking, wobbliness, inability to swallow, wide pupils and difficulty breathing.
Affected dogs often seem very unwell and then make a rapid recovery. Sadly, this recovery is not permanent and the pets will become severely affected again and be at high risk of death.
Typically, untreated animals bitten by brown snakes die quickly while those bitten by red belly black snakes tend to die from secondary effects.
Cats can be very difficult to diagnose as their signs are often vague: any combination of lethargy, difficulty walking, unusual meow, vomiting or large pupils.
Sometimes it is difficult to know whether a pet actually has been bitten.
There are several tests that can be performed including a venom detection test.
Early treatment usually enables pets to be discharged from hospital within 24-48 hours.
More severe poisoning and animals who are brought in a few hours after being bitten often need more extensive and expensive hospital stays.
Time is an important factor in getting snake bites treated.
Call or attend your vet urgently if you think your cat or dog has been bitten.
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