A LABRADOR bitten by a red-bellied black snake in Maryborough on Monday morning is recovering at a vet clinic in Charleville.
Owners Reegan and Karyn Cunningham had brought Sophie, 9, to Maryborough for a weekend visit and were packing the car for the return journey when Sophie’s back legs suddenly weakened after playing in the Bell Hilltop backyard between the pool and veranda.
She was lifted in to the car but progressively worsened during the nine-hour drive home.
A Charleville vet’s suspicion that Sophie had been bitten by a snake was confirmed when she responded to an anti-venom vaccine.
The snake that bit Sophie was not seen on Monday but the property owners correctly guessed the breed was red-bellied black as neighbours had reported seeing one move through the yard some weeks ago.
Fraser Coast snake-catcher Roy McGrath said red-bellied black snakes were common in the Bell Hilltop area.
The breed lives in well-watered areas, swamps and wet eucalypt forests, such as the nearby Faye Smith Wetlands.
“Red-bellied black snakes are venomous but they’re good in that they’re cannibalistic – they clean up the young of eastern browns,” Mr McGrath said.
“They’re also very timid snakes. If you see one, wave a towel at it … and give me a call.”
Mr McGrath said that being a venomous snake, the red-bellied black was active during the day and dormant at night.
“Non-venous snakes are usually dormant by day and active at night.”
He said all snakes were generally more active at this time of year building up body fat in preparation for winter hibernation.
Mr McGrath estimated Fraser Coast vets would each treat about 17 dogs every year for snakebites.
Red-bellied black snakes are shiny black in colour with brownish tipped snouts, cream belly scales and red on the lower flanks. They grow to two metres in length. Their main prey are fish, frogs, cane toads, reptiles (including snakes) and small mammals.
Seek urgent medical attention for all suspected bites.