Spring has sprung, however flowers might not be the one issues popping up in your yard; this is also the season when snakes come out of hibernation.
There are almost 3,000 completely different species of snakes on the earth, with lower than a 3rd thought-about venomous, in line with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. However, solely 4 kinds of venomous snakes are discovered within the U.S., together with rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths or water moccasins, and coral snakes — and all of them are current in Texas.
Regardless of the kind of snake chances are you’ll encounter, Dr. Christine Rutter, a scientific affiliate professor of emergency medication on the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, encourages house owners to have all snake bites evaluated by a veterinarian if they think their pet has been bitten, as bites from non-venomous snakes can result in medical problems as nicely.
Understanding Snake Behavior
Snakes, with their exceptional adaptability, stay in all kinds of locations, from dense rainforests and arid deserts to city environments.
“I live in a suburban environment, and I have seen snakes even in my small yard,” Rutter stated. “I make sure I turn on the house lights and make a bit of noise before letting my pets out, giving snakes a bit of warning and hopefully time to move away and hide. Snakes themselves don’t want to interact with people or pets because they are interested in being left alone; they defend themselves only if they feel threatened.”
To stay unnoticed, snakes typically search out hiding locations, however this pure inclination to cover can generally make it troublesome for pets to note them till they’re too shut, probably inflicting the snake to react defensively.
“Snakes really love patches of tall grass, leaf piles, wood piles, sheds, and areas that have lower daily traffic, such as garages and storage buildings,” Rutter stated. “Snake deterrents and chemicals, unfortunately, don’t work, so owners should keep pets away from outbuildings and maintain the pet’s environment by removing leaves, debris, and tall grass.”
Immediate Actions When Bitten
Despite taking precautions, there may be at all times an opportunity that pets come throughout snakes, which is why it will be important for house owners to have the ability to acknowledge indicators that their pet has been bitten.
“Dogs are most commonly bitten on the face, neck, and front limbs, while cats are most commonly bitten on their front paws,” Rutter defined. “Because some snakes don’t leave a typical ‘bite’ on a pet, owners may not find one or two bleeding puncture wounds. Instead, they should look for other signs in their pet, including pain, fear, abnormal mentality, seizures, or difficulty walking.”
Unlike another accidents or diseases the place first assist measures may be utilized at home, all snake bites require quick veterinary consideration.
“Owners should immediately remove the collar of any animal that has been bitten to prevent it from becoming constricting should the pet have swelling around their head or neck,” Rutter stated. “Otherwise, there are no medications that can be given at home that are effective at treating snake bites or are appropriate to control the pain, so don’t administer anything – just see your veterinarian.”
If doable, house owners additionally ought to attempt to collect details about the snake offender with out placing themselves in peril, both by taking an image of the snake from a protected distance or describing its dimension, coloration, and distinctive markings from afar.
“Many snakes are not venomous, but differentiating between venomous and nonvenomous snakes is quite difficult, especially in the moment,” Rutter stated. “Common things veterinarians will want to know are the snake’s color(s); patterns such as stripes or shapes versus a solid color; and the presence of a rattle. Sometimes a snake’s tail is a unique color, which can also be a helpful indicator.”
Information concerning the snake might help veterinarians in figuring out the kind of snake and whether or not administering an acceptable antivenom might be needed, however house owners ought to prioritize getting their pet to the veterinarian earlier than a snake chew begins inflicting extreme well being issues akin to issue respiratory.
By being conscious of your pet’s environment and making small changes to their atmosphere, you possibly can assist preserve them protected from hidden risks like snakes. Remember, when you have cause to imagine your pet was bitten by a snake, it’s essential to go to your veterinarian as quickly as doable.
Pet Talk is a service of the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories may be considered on the internet at vetmed.tamu.edu/information/pet-talk. Suggestions for future subjects could also be directed to [email protected].
