Dog Snake Bite Symptoms
Snake bites tend to occur on the dog’s head or neck and so it is important to spot the snake bite symptoms early on. Snake bites may affect one or more body systems including the cardiopulmonary system, the nervous system, or the coagulation system. Usually, if the snake is not poisonous or the venom was not injected, the pain, swelling, and bruising at the bite site will be minimal. If the snake was poisonous you may see one, two, or several small puncture wounds, bleeding, bruising, immediate and extremely painful swelling at the site of the bite, and tissue necrosis. The more severe systemic signs may take up to several hours to appear and include hypotension and shock, lethargy and weakness, muscle tremors, nausea, vomiting, and neurological signs including depressed respiration. If you find that a snake has bit your dog try to identify the snake if possible. Then you must restrict movement of the pet. Loosely immobilize the limb in a functional position if bitten on an extremity. Do not cut the bite wound to try and draw out the venom and absolutely do not apply a tourniquet without veterinary assistance. Also don’t apply ice to the area as this does nothing to help and could actually worsen the problem. Seek veterinary attention. A study of animals bitten by pit vipers showed that those treated with antivenin, intravenous fluids, and antibiotics had a mortality rate less than 1% and local tissue damage was rare. The mortality rate in untreated patients depended on the species of snake involved. For example, in patients bitten by the Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes, the mortality rate was about 10%. In the much more dangerous Mojave rattlesnake, it could be as high as 35%. So if you think that your dog has received a snake bite and is showing snake bite symptoms it is crucial that you seek immediate medical attention for your dog.