Snakebites among pet owners’ worst nightmares

ALBANY‒ A few years ago, I experienced one of a dog guardian’s worst nightmares. I went to the door and called for Ranger, our golden retriever, to come back inside. When he finally decided to comply, I immediately noticed that he was drooling excessively and the right side of his face was swollen. He had obviously suffered a snake bite.

After calling all the dogs inside to determine if any others had been bitten, I walked the fenced-in backyard, searching for the snake to identify what species the culprit might be. At the same time, I called our vet to let him know I was bringing Ranger in for treatment. I did not find the offending reptile but assumed that it was a copperhead in light of two previous occurrences with another dog.

Pets being bitten by snakes are common occurrences, with thousands reported nationally each year. Dogs are more likely to suffer from the bite of a venomous snake than their human companions and by some statistics 25 times more likely to die. Snakebites are not only life-threatening, they are extremely painful and treatment can be expensive.

Alison Harrell, an animal control officer in southwest Georgia, has plenty of experience with pets, reptiles and the unintended interactions between them.

One of the first things that Harrell brought up during a recent conversation was prevention.

“When it comes to deterring snakes, there are a lot of myths out there about moth balls and products like Snake-Away, and none of that works,” Harrell said. “The best thing you can do is keep your grass cut and brush piles and debris to a minimum. Supervise your animals while they are outside.”

“Don’t try and catch a snake or kill it,” Harrell said. Doing so can lead to your needing medical assistance as well. Most snakebites of humans occur when they attempt to capture or kill a venomous snake.

“If your dog or cat is bitten, try and get a photo of the snake if possible,” Harrell said. “If not, that’s OK. There are only six venomous snakes native to Georgia, and five of them are pit vipers that require the same antivenom.”

Instead, Harrell said, focus on the bite victim.

The first step in any first-aid plan for a pet is to store the vet’s phone number in your phone’s favorites directory. Calling the vet serves two purposes: It allows the clinic to prepare for the emergency arrival and gives the vet an opportunity to advise the pet owner of any immediate actions needed. Remove collar, leash, or any harness on the pet, as swelling may continue. Stay calm and avoid exciting the pet or causing further stress. Keep them cool and seek medical attention.

Harrell recommends that all pet owners join the National Snakebite Support Facebook group for prompt and accurate snakebite support for pets or humans. After joining the group, take time to familiarize with it and the requirements and restrictions related to the site. The NSS site is particularly valuable if the bite occurs while traveling or for some reason a vet is not available.

Information from the group relating to pit viper envenomation recommends the use of antivenom to neutralize venom, IV fluids to control hydration, pain management, and blood work to monitor the progression or regression of the hematological changes. Home remedies, including and the use of Benadryl, are discouraged as they may actually cause additional harm or complicate veterinary treatment.

When it comes to these treatments, the availability or expense of antivenom is a real consideration in treatment. If antivenom is not available to a vet, the NSS site may provide options for transfer. However, antivenom is not an inexpensive course of treatment. Costs can range between $500 to $2,000, and in some instances, depending on dosages administered and other treatments provided, total cost for bite treatment can exceed this amount. Therefore, a serious conversation regarding options should be held with the vet regarding the course of treatment. 

One precautionary option is to have pets vaccinated in an effort to minimize the severity of a venomous snakebite, if it occurs. The vaccine is not a silver bullet, and medical treatment is still required in the event of a bite. However, it may reduce the impact of a bite and provide a higher chance of survival. This is something that can be discussed with a veterinarian.

Another option that Harrell brought up was avoidance training. The training is conducted under controlled conditions utilizing a caged and sometimes “milked” venomous snake, a handler, and a shock collar. In practice, when the dog approaches or is led to the reptile and is in a proximity similar to the snake’s strike zone, an electric shock is administered to the dog. In theory, through repetition the dog will associate the snake with the shock in much the same way an invisible fence works.

The phrase “in theory” was intentional. At the start of this story, I mentioned that two other instances of canine snakebite had occurred in the same yard where Ranger was bitten. What I did not mention was that those bites where to the same dog who had gone through avoidance training between bites.

With the snake being the obvious villain in these stories, Harrell said, “I can’t leave this interview without advocating for the snakes. They are important members of the ecosystem. So I just want to reiterate that if there is one on your property, don’t try to kill it. Please consider contacting the Free Snake Relocation Directory group on Facebook to locate someone in your area to move the snake off your property.”