In the warmer months from September to March, snakes become much more active and pet owners need to be careful to safeguard their pets from snakes and recognise the signs and symptoms of a snake bite. Australian snakes are among the most venomous in the world, and without treatment, a snake bite can rapidly lead to death. The most common snakes in Queensland are the Red Belly Black Snake and Brown Snake species, however, there are also Tiger snakes and Death Adders. These snakes are all part of the Elapid family.
If your pet has been bitten by a member of the elapid family, they may experience pre-paralytic syndrome. This is characterized by acute collapse at the time of the bite, potentially with vomiting or defecation. They may rapidly improve over 10-30 minutes prior to quick deterioration.
What are the effects of Elapid envenomation?
- Acute collapse at the time of the bite, (+/- vomit or defecation).
- Neurological problems (wobbliness, salivation, dilated pupils, progressing to seizures, paralysis, coma).
- Breathing difficulty, respiratory muscle paralysis.
- Muscle damage, muscle weakness and loss of bladder control.
- Severe pain.
- Low blood pressure (hypotension) and shock.
- Blood clotting abnormalities.
- Cardiac effects (rapid heart rate, arrhythmia, sudden cardiac arrest).
- Multiple organ failure.
If you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake, go to the nearest pet emergency clinic immediately.
How does a pet emergency clinic help?
Snake envenomation is an emergency and requires rapid diagnosis and treatment with an appropriate antivenom. Your pet may appear perfectly normal but can deteriorate after 12 hours.
However, if you are unsure as to whether your pet was bitten by a snake, then a venom detection kit will test this and will help determine the appropriate anti-venom that needs to be administered. Your pet will need to be admitted to critical care for at least 24 hours and if treated immediately your pet has a chance of making a good recovery.
Antivenom acts to neutralize the circulating venom in the blood and is most effective if given early. A delay in antivenom administration can result in a longer recovery period and a poorer prognosis for full recovery.
The rate of survival without antivenom is low.
Initial treatment of snake bite includes:
- Intravenous fluid therapy to treat the initial shock.
- Sample of urine are taken to run a snake venom detection kit (the identification of the snake is important for knowing how much anti-venom to give).
- Blood tests to assess clotting times, red blood cell levels, and organ function will also be undertaken
- Pain relief
Ongoing therapy depends on the severity of envenomation. Further treatment depends on symptoms and may include:
- Oxygen therapy
- Plasma or blood transfusions
- Urinary catheter placement
- Tube feeding and nutritional support
- Ventilation (life support)
Patients must be hospitalized until they start to show improvement, and are able to eat, drink, walk and urinate on their own. Some cases are in hospital for multiple days, depending on how rapid treatment was initiated.
Lifelong organ damage can be present after recovery from the bite. In some cases, delayed reactions to either the snakebite or the antivenin can occur so it is important to monitor your pet following snakebite treatment for swelling, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing or lethargy. They should be kept quiet and indoors for at least 4 weeks, while they regain their strength as nerve and muscle damage can take weeks to resolve.
As a pet owner, what can you do to help?
As a pet owner, if you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake the best thing you can do for your pet is to take them to the closest veterinary clinic immediately. If you see a snake in your yard, call a snake catcher at once. It is advised not to pick the snake up or approach the snake, as they can be very aggressive.
If your dog has been bitten by a snake and the snake is still in your yard, a photo would be helpful to help the pet emergency clinic administer the correct anti-venom. In order to keep your pet safe from snakes, keep your dog on a lead especially along long green and swampy areas. A snake bite can be life-threatening to your pet, but with timely medical care, your pet can make a quick recovery.
As we move into summer, snake season begins. Keep an eye out for these symptoms in your pet and if you suspect a snake bite take them to a pet emergency clinic immediately. At North Coast Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, we provide pet emergency care day and night. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us today!