In the ideal world, you and your pet and you are unlikely to encounter snakes. However, it does happen. About 150,000 pets and dogs get bitten by venomous snakes throughout the United States 11 Also, bites caused by snakes that are not poisonous are believed to be more frequent. It’s essential to learn to recognize and treat snake bites and, most importantly, knowing how to avoid them entirely.

How Do You Know Your Dog Has Been Bitten By A Snake?

If you witnessed the bite take place, try to catch a look at the snake from a safe distance. Avoid putting your life in jeopardy. Being able to identify the snake or being in a position to describe its appearance could aid in treatment and reduce your anxiety should it turn out to be harmless. However, it’s not worth taking the possibility of getting bitten.

If you don’t notice any bites, then you could be able to see signs of a snake bite, such as:

Non-Venomous Snake Bite Symptoms

In most cases, there is swelling and bruising within the region surrounding the bite. It is possible to see two puncture wounds caused by the fangs. The bite area is typically extremely painful. Avoid touching or scratching the bite area because your dog could be irritated.

Venomous Snake Bite Symptoms

The symptoms depend on the type of snake. The following list of symptoms will help you decide if the animal is poisonous.

• Swelling can be large and will spread rapidly.
• The wound from the bite will begin to leak, or it may be a the appearance of a bloody discharge.
• There is a chance that you won’t see puncture wounds because of the rapid swelling or smaller fangs on some snakes.
• It is also important to remember that there are instances that venomous snakes “dry bite.” This means they bite but don’t release the venom. It is sometimes difficult to tell if dry bites occur, but it must always presume that venom was released within the bite.

What To Do Immediately After Your Dog Is Bitten By A Snake.

No matter the apparent seriousness of the bite or whether the snake is poisonous or not, you should take your pet to a vet for an assessment and treatment. The presence of venom could result in a significant and immediate risk to the dog’s health. Additionally, the bites of snakes are also injured, and the snake’s mouth is filled with bacteria. Careful handling is crucial to ensure that the wound doesn’t become infected. In addition, bite wounds can be painful, and your dog may require the right treatment for pain.

Life threatening, serious signs need immediate visits to an emergency vet clinic. This includes the following signs:

• It appears normal at first but then suddenly weakens and eventually collapses.
• Are you feeling tired?
• Are there muscle tremors
• Has dilated pupils
• It starts with vomiting and/or having diarrhea.
• Is there bloody urine?
• Do you drool or have excessive salivation?
• Does the mouth have bleeding or the nose? Or from the site of the bite?
• Inability to manage bowel movements or urination
• There are no signs of paralysis.

If you aren’t able to visit an animal veterinarian right away, there are some things you must do when trying to connect with your vet or the nearest emergency animal clinic.

• Remain calm. It’s a stressful moment everywhere, but being calm can help you decide on the right next steps and can help you manage your dog’s stress levels and also.
• Make sure your dog is at peace and calm. Keep your dog warm and cozy.
• Cleanse the wound gently using water to get rid of any excess poison. Keep in mind that the area of the bite could be extremely painful for your dog.
• If you can, based on the site of the wound, ensure that it is kept below the heart. This will help prevent the spread of venom throughout the body.
• If you can, take your dog instead of walking them by themselves.

Treating A Snakebite On A Dog (You Can’t Do This at Home).

Bites that aren’t dangerous or venomous may be taken care of by your vet as a puncture. This involves cleansing and flushing the area as well as providing antibiotics as well as anti-inflammatories, and pain relief as needed.

The treatment for venomous bites is based on the type of snake as well as the severity of the wound as well as the damage to the tissue. The general treatment plan covers the signs of shock as well as low blood pressure and infections. If there are signs of respiratory distress, it’s also addressed. In general, dogs are admitted to a vet for at minimum of 1 to 3 days. Then, it is recommended to limit the amount of activity and to let them take a break for between one and two weeks.

Treatments to treat bites from snakes may include:

• Intravenous (IV) fluids to deal with blood circulation issues or the presence of low blood pressure. IV fluids may need to be administered in a short infusion.
• Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections.
• Pain medication to manage discomfort and pain.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines like corticosteroids or NSAIDs in relation to the area and extent of swelling.
• Antivenin (also called antivenom) can be used to block the effects of the venom. This is crucial for bites from certain kinds of snakes.
• Transfusion of blood products to treat bleeding that is significant or blood clotting due to the effects of venom.

Tips To Avoid Snakes (and Snake Bites) With Your Dog.

Avoid high grasses, piles of leaves as well as rocks and wood because they are the most common places in which snakes could easily conceal. When you’re hiking, keep to trails and keep your eyes on the ground to ensure that you or your pup don’t get onto a snake.

Dogs can be taught to be wary of snakes with positive reinforcement. However, aversive methods for training snake avoidance, like shock collars, aren’t appropriate and could increase the risk of encounters with snakes. It’s astonishing to witness the outcomes of positive reinforcement snake-avoidance training. The use of a strong “leave it” or other distraction cues in place will allow the dog to shift its focus from a possible risk like a snake on the road. A trained, experienced dog trainer will help you build an effective foundation for training and integrate these methods into your routine.