Keeping pets safe around snakes

With the weather getting warmer, our pets are spending more time outside where possible dangers may not be too far away. Snakes are increasingly becoming more and more active which will only continue to grow as we edge closer and closer to summer. It’s imperative that we do our best to avoid confrontations between our pets and snakes which could potentially lead to a deadly situation.

How to protect your pet

As our pets are very curious animals with a hunting instinct, it is not uncommon for them to go searching around for snakes in order to hunt or kill them – which in turn put them at risk of getting bitten. Australia has some of the most deadly snakes in the world, with many having the potential to easily kill a household pet with one bite.

To make your backyard less appealing to snakes, you need to be aware of what types of things snakes are attracted too. Food and water sources are strong snake attractants, along with tall grassy areas and piles of old rubbish such as car parts, tyres and wood piles. If snakes are very common in your area, you may want to consider snake proof fences around your property to truly protect your pet.

If you’re away from home walking your dog, it is best to keep them on their lead when walking in bushland and keep them away from long grassy areas to avoid possible snake interactions.

What to do if your pet gets bitten

When your pet is bitten by a snake, they may show some or all of these symptoms:

• Sudden weakness or collapsing
• Shaking/twitching
• Difficulty blinking
• Vomiting
• Loss of bladder control
• Dilated pupils
• Paralysis
• Blood in urine

As soon as you notice any of these symptoms, you are racing against the clock so it is best to act as quickly as possible.

If you’re around when the bite happens, do not try and kill or catch the snake as both of you being bitten is not helping you or your pet out. Try and stay calm while noticing any markings on the snake to determine what sort it is in order to get the appropriate anti-venom administered straight away. Apply a firm bandage over/around the bite area to stop the venom from reaching the heart – the closer the bite is to the heart, the quicker the symptoms will take over.

Snake bites are very common within Australia for household pets and can have varying effects on the animal, depending on how quickly the anti-venom is administered and the region of the bite. Remember to stay calm and contact your vet to give your furry friend a fighting chance.