Echuca-Moama Veterinarian Clinic’s Dr Mark Wheatley said owners could take steps now to minimise the risk of their pets being bitten by snakes.
Dr Wheatley said a common snake bite scenario occurred when owners were in off-lead areas while on walks, letting their dogs explore.
“Next thing you know, there’s a yelp, and no-one really sees anything.
“Dogs can’t talk to you, so you don’t know whether they’ve been bitten by a snake ... or whether it’s a grass seed that’s gone into their ear (another common issue in spring),” Dr Wheatley said.
Owners can reduce the likelihood of a snake bite occurring by keeping their pets near while walking.
“Having a dog in close proximity to the owner, on a lead — if there is a snake, the owner’s likely to see it, and then be able to remove the animal and themselves from that situation quickly,” Dr Wheatley said.
If an owner suspects a snake bite has occurred, Dr Wheatley said it was crucial to contact a veterinarian clinic and bring their pet in to be looked at as soon as possible.
“With dogs, you maybe have an hour or two before you have a deceased dog,” Dr Wheatley said.
“What we say to people is ... if they even suspect that their dog or cat has had an interaction with a snake, don’t delay or wait for symptoms to appear.”
Ringing a clinic allows staff to prepare to treat animals bitten by snakes, which is particularly important for dogs, as they are more susceptible to their venom.
“We have a really good success rate of treating them, but time is of the essence: every minute counts. The earlier people can get in, the better their chances are,” Dr Wheatley said.
The Echuca-Moama Veterinarian Clinic only stocks combined anti-venom, which treats all common snake bites, making snake identification unnecessary, Dr Wheatley said.
Property maintenance is also important for owners, Dr Wheatley said, ensuring grass is short, yards are tidy, and chicken coops are well kept to deter mice, which can attract snakes.
Dr Wheatley said he had seen a high amount of snake bite cases this year, and heard anecdotal reports of snakes on properties where they had never been sighted before.
“Some people have had multiple sightings and multiple bites in their own yard this year,” he said.
“Just because you haven’t had them before, doesn’t mean you’re not going to have them this year or in future years, either.”
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