Beware of snakes!
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One of the Star Pets blog readers asked me to post about snake bites. The mild weather has increased the likelihood of snake bites so hence all cat and dog owners should be aware of what to do if you suspect your pet ahs been bitten.
Here are the tips which were forwarded to me by a reader….
Snake Bite
Fortunately, if your pet happens to be bitten by a poisonous snake the odds are in favor of a complete recovery. The degree of damage inflicted by a venomous snake is determined by a wide variety of variables. The age and species of snake, the intensity and depth of the fang penetration, the amount of venom injected, the location of the bite, and the size of the pet are just a few of the variables. In general, snakes want to be left alone. But along comes an inquisitive animal probing every mysterious hole in the ground, sniffing under downed logs, slogging along the riverbank, and digging up leafy patches on the forest floor… and a lightening strike of the serpentine kind may be the result!
- Try to identify the snake by taking note of its size, color patterns and the presence or absence of a rattle at the end of the tail
- Look your pet over carefully for fang marks, noting that there may be more than one bite wound.
- If bitten on a leg, wrap a constricting band on the affected limb snugly at a level just above the bite wound (on the body side of the wound). This band could be fashioned of a shirtsleeve or other fabric and should be snug but not excessively tight.
- Start your journey to the nearest animal hospital while trying to keep your pet as quiet as possible.
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