Media release

16/11/10

Contact : Dr Sara Biasutti

Snake warning

The past few weeks have seen an increase in the number of Orange and district pets being presented to veterinary clinics for snakebite. The warmer weather and excellent rainfall are to blame for bringing out the venomous reptiles according to local veterinarian Sara Biasutti, of Canobolas Pet Hospital. The rain has meant that snakes prey animals (like frogs and rodents) are in large numbers swelling the numbers of snakes.  

“Family pets tend to love to hunt and a snake bailed up by a pet will often see attack as the best form of defence,” said Dr Biasutti. “One of our nurses at the clinic had both her dogs bitten by a Brown snake on the weekend,” she said, “luckily we managed to save both of them with antivenene”. Copperhead, Red Belly Black and Brown snakes have been responsible for the bites over the last few weeks. Most bites are inflicted without evidence of a bite wound with owners not aware of anything untoward until their pet starts to show signs of envenomation.

“Pets will often see confronting a snake as a bit of a game, they are really fulfilling their natural instincts,” said Dr Biasutti. Cats are the most common pet presented to veterinary clinics for snakebite. The severity and speed on onset of the symptoms depends on how many times the animals has been bitten, the location of the bites on the animal and the amount of venom injected.

Dr Biasutti says that diagnosing snakebite can be difficult as each species has its own special blend of toxins. Some, like Black snakes, affect the blood cells more than others while the brown snake causes paralysis. Even working out whether the animal has been bitten by a snake can be difficult. A high index of suspicion at this time of the year and the symptoms typical of snake bite assisting vets to diagnose an envenomation. Snake bite detection kits are now available and can confirm the bite as well as determining what kind of snake was responsible and hence the correct antivenom to use.

If you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake the best thing to do is to get it to a vet as soon as possible. Killing or catching the snake is unnecessary as the detection kits can identify what kind of snake it is. “Not only is it illegal but most people bitten by snakes are bitten in the process of attempting to kill them,“ said Dr Biasutti.

See the prime news report
See the the report in CWD