Very severe and potentially life threatening symptoms: Tremors and seizures. Difficulty breathing. Collapse. Sudden death can occur if adder venom is injected straight into the blood stream.
Symptoms and signs to look out for can include vomiting or feeling genuinely unwell, noticeable muscular tremors, reduced energy or lethargy, paralysis, and irregular bleeding. Paralysis is a common sign of a snake bite, but can also be a common symptom of other medical concerns.
Time of onset of signs- rapidity of onset of signs is related to dose received. In dogs it is usually 1-2 hours (but maybe 6.5 hrs) & cats it is about 15hr (up to 24hr).
Look out for symptoms such as leg weakness, shaking or pacing and general restlessness. Your dog may also have dilated pupils or be drooling more than usual, or could even be panting a lot or struggling to breathe. In extreme cases, your dog could even collapse or lose consciousness.
Recovery. Approximately 80% of pets survive snake bite if treated quickly. The survival rate is much lower however for pets that are left untreated, and death can occur. Recovery from a snake bite usually takes 24 to 48 hours if the pet receives prompt veterinary attention and the snake bite is not severe.
Seek Veterinary Assistance for Snake Bites
If you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake, seek veterinary attention immediately. Most pets will survive a snake bite if attended to immediately.
There is a snake venom detection kit that can be run on a blood sample or urine sample, depending on the suspected time of bite. There are tests that assess blood clotting, and muscle damage (both of which can be abnormal with snake bite). Q. What will the vet do to treat my pet for snake bite?
Statistics show that approximately 80% of dogs survive venomous snake bites with prompt care. Factors that influence survival include the size of the dog, the duration of time between the bite and receiving emergency treatment, as well as the location of the bite.
Usually, after a bite from a venomous snake, there is severe burning pain at the site within 15 to 30 minutes. This can progress to swelling and bruising at the wound and all the way up the arm or leg.
Your vet may clean the bite and give your dog antibiotics and antihistamines. Some dogs may need fluids and might need to be treated for shock. Your vet may administer antivenom if the bite was venomous. Antivenom treatment is expensive.
Dogs may react to a snake bite right away, or it may take up to 24 hours for symptoms to appear. Common symptoms of a snake bite on a dog include: Sudden weakness and possible collapse.
Blisters, often filled with blood, may form in the bite area. Without treatment, tissue around the bite may be destroyed. Other symptoms include fever, chills, general weakness, faintness, sweating, anxiety, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some of these symptoms may be caused by terror rather than venom.
Do not slash the wound with a knife. Do not suck out the venom. Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water. Do not drink alcohol as a pain killer.
Fever is not one of the symptoms of snake bite. Symptoms of snake bite include nausea, sweating, swelling and redness, salivation, difficulty in breathing, blurred vision and numbness.
Predators include badgers, red foxes, domestic cats, hedgehogs and a number of birds; when caught, grass snakes hiss and release a foul-smelling substance from their anal gland. Although they may also strike with the head, they do not bite and are harmless to humans.
Wound aspirate, serum, and urine are the most suitable materials for venom detection. ELISA has been used for clinical diagnosis of snakebite, to monitor antivenom dose, to study clinical syndromes associated with envenomation, to detect venom in forensic cases, and to evaluate first aid techniques.
In Australia there may be 60,000 cases of snake bites per year of dogs and cats. Up to 15,000 deaths of pets may occur.
Australia holds the unenviable record of the largest number of venomous snakes of any country on earth! Close to 6,500 pets were bitten by snakes last year in Australia and a venomous snake bite is a life-threatening emergency.
Does he really need to see a veterinarian? Within 48 hours of your purchase, your snake should be examined by a qualified reptile veterinarian. The veterinary visit typically includes determining the animal's weight, as well as checking for abnormalities such as lumps and bumps or signs of external parasites.
Keep your pet calm and quiet, and apply a pressure bandage – a firm bandage placed over and around the bite site – to help slow the venom from spreading to his 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.
A venomous snake bite will usually leave two clear puncture marks. In contrast, a nonvenomous bite tends to leave two rows of teeth marks. It can be difficult to tell the difference between puncture wounds from venomous and nonvenomous snakes. People should seek medical attention for all snake bites.
If you suffer a dry snake bite, you'll likely just have swelling and redness around the area of the bite. But if you're bitten by a venomous snake, you'll have more widespread symptoms, which commonly include: Bite marks on your skin. These can be puncture wounds or smaller, less recognizable marks.