Snakebites
The pets most vulnerable to venomous snake bites are dogs, but much of the information here will work equally well if another pet is bitten by a snake.
If your pet is bitten by a snake, do not cut X marks over the bite with a knife and try to suck out the venom.
That will not work, and also delays your pet’s arrival at the vet. You need to get your pet to the veterinary as quickly as possible. Do not attack the snake in anger.
Try to get your pet and yourself as far away from the snake as possible, after you’ve gotten a good look at the snake so you can identify it.
If you have a camera phone handy, snap a picture. You can help your vet by knowing if it has a rattle, how big it is, and what kind of pattern it has, as well as the color of that pattern.
Any information you can provide about where you were and the kind of habitat—brush, grass, water—will also help the vet identify the type of snake that bit your pet.
Check your pet for bites; there may be more than one. If you don’t see a bite, but you’re sure your pet was bitten, you must take him to the vet. If the bite is on your pet’s leg, wrap a piece of cloth around the leg above the bite, tightly but not so tight it will hurt.
This will help stop the venom from spreading. To protect your dog from snake bites, take some precautions on walks. Keep your dog on a leash, and don’t let him poke his nose in holes in the ground or under flat rocks or logs.
Always use your instincts, and keep your dog away from any suspicious overgrown areas. Try to walk on open paths, where you’re not as likely to encounter snakes. Walk during the day whenever possible. If you’re hiking off the trail with a dog, you are as likely to be bitten as your dog, so be very cautious.
If you hear a rattle, call your dog to your side and stand still while you locate the snake, then move away slowly. If your dog sees or hears something in the grass and wants to explore, keep your dog away until you find out what it is that he is curious about.
Avoiding snakes altogether is obviously the best strategy. Keep in mind that if your pet is bitten, getting to the vet as quickly as possible is your priority. There is nothing you can do on site to help your pet. Call ahead to let the vet know you’re coming, and get there as quickly as you can.
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