CRUISER, a family’s loyal Rhodesian ridgeback, was lucky to survive after he was bitten by a brown snake last week, with local vets warning dog owners to keep an eye out as the warm weather brings out the scaly reptiles.
Cruiser was taken in to Warwick Vet Clinic after experiencing symptoms of a snakebite which turned out to be from a deadly brown on Rodeo Drive.
“We had to treat her with three vials of antivenom and she was in here for a week,” Warwick Vet Clinic vet Jane Gilmore said.
“It is very rare to have to use three vials.”
As the weather becomes more steamy the region’s snakes are becoming more active, causing an increase in pet dogs being rushed to veterinary clinics for emergency treatment.
Since October there has been an increase in snakebite victims admitted to the clinic. In one week alone, six dogs were taken in for emergency treatment.
On average this year they have had at least two dogs a week, and Dr Gilmore warns residents to be aware of the danger.
Dr Gilmore warned that if an animal collapses after being seen to be bitten but then appears to recover, not to make the assumption that it is out of danger.
“Usually in the next 12 hours they will get worse; they need treatment immediately,” Dr Gilmore said.
To help vets treat a pet for snakebite, take the snake (only if it is dead) to the clinic so the correctantivenom can be administered.
Symptoms
Symptoms of snakebites in dogs include:
The animal being wobbly in the back legs
Drooling a lot
Pupils dilated
In some cases vomiting
At times they will have a wound that won’t stop bleeding.