A message to all our followers #Adelaide 23/1/2014 As most of us already know it is snake season and they are out and about in many numbers and its time for young to hatch. Please remember to keep your fur babies protected from snake bite, I have added some info here and much more can be found on Adelaide Snake Sightings as well as Snake Away Services. In the warmer summer months, snakes become much more active and pet owners need to be careful and safeguard their pets from snake bites, plus look out for the warning signs should an animal be bitten. Dogs, being inquisitive creatures, usually try to chase or kill snakes resulting in snake bites usually to the dogs face and legs. Cats, being hunters and chasing anything that moves, also makes them quite susceptible to snake bites. The sort of reaction your pet has to a snake bite is determined by a number of factors: the type of snake, the amount of venom injected and the site of the snake bite. Generally the closer the bite is to the heart the quicker the venom spreads to the rest of the body. In addition, at the beginning of summer, snakes venom glands are fuller and their bites are much more severe. The tiger and brown snake are responsible for most of the snake bites in domestic pets. The tiger snakes have a bite that can be fatal to not only pets but humans. Brown snake venom is milder than the tiger snake’s. These snakes have a toxin that causes paralysis and also have an agent in them that uses up all the clotting factors that helps to stop your pet from bleeding. Tiger snakes also have a toxin that breaks down muscle causing damage to the kidneys. Signs of snake bite include: * Sudden weakness followed by collapse. * Fang marks may or may not be visible, due to dog or cats hair. * Bleeding puncture wound. * Swelling of the bitten area; can be sever and progress for more than a day. * Pain. * Blood does not clot. * Neurologic signs such as twitching, drooling, shaking or twitching of the muscles and difficulty blinking. * Vomiting. * Loss of bladder and bowel control. * Dilated pupils. * Ascending paralysis (hind legs affected first). * Blood in urine. What do I do if I think my pet has been bitten by a snake? If you think your pet has been bitten by a snake you should keep your pet calm & quiet and take it to a vet immediately. The chances of recovery are greater if your pet is treated early (80%) with some pets making a recovery within 48 hours. Pets left untreated have a much much lower survival rate and many die. If your vet is some distance, first aid you can apply, if practical, includes keeping your pet clam & quiet and applying a pressure bandage – a firm bandage over and around the bite site - to help slow the venom spreading to the heart. Do NOT wash the wound or apply a tourniquet. If you can identify the snake tell your veterinarian - but don’t try to catch or kill the snake. If it is dead, bring the snake with you, otherwise there is a blood or urine test that can identify whether your animal has been bitten and the type of snake responsible. Once the snake has been identified your vet can administer antivenom. Please be warned that antivenom is quite expensive and can result in a hefty veterinary bill, so best to try and keep your pets as safe as possible. If you are walking your dog close to bushland - especially near water during the summer months - please keep your dog on a lead and avoid long grassy areas. Keep the grass low in your backyard/property, clean up any rubbish piles or clear away objects where snakes may be able to hide (wood piles, under sheets of corrugated metal etc.). If snakes are a common threat in your area, you could consider building a snake-proof fence around all or part of your property - information about snake-proof fences can be found through a search of the internet. https://facebook/AdelaideSnakeSpotter (Kell)
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 03:45:48 +0000
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