Snakes Alive!

By: Lorelei Prichard DVM
About the author

Snakes have always been given a bad rap and movie hits like “Anaconda” and “Snakes on a Plane” are enough to give any grounded person pause. Although your chances of meeting up with these legless creatures on your next flight are quite slim, your family pet may be at much greater risk. In fact, 150,000 dogs and cats are bitten annually.

Pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth water moccasins) are the largest group of venomous snakes in the United States and all three can be encountered in Georgia. Water moccasins, however, are more prevalent in South Georgia and are unlikely to be found in our immediate area. Rattlesnakes account for the majority of deaths in both human and animal victims.

Poisonous snakes can be readily identified by their characteristic triangular shaped head, the heat-sensing "pits" between the nostrils and eyes, retractable front fangs, and their characteristic elliptical pupils, and a single row of scales on the underbelly between the anus and tip of tail (although one should never be close enough to a live snake to verify most of these characteristics).

Snakebites are most common in Georgia between the months of April and October as snakes become more aggressive during periods of environmental warming and increased daylight. Studies have shown that maximum venom yields occur during the hottest months of summer.

The venom injected during a bite is a complex combination of enzymes and toxic proteins. The prognosis for recovery from snake bite can vary widely and is dependent upon the toxicity of the venom, the species of snake, the bite site, use of premedications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Rimadyl, may make the dog more susceptible to clotting defects), and the victim’s physiological response. Because of these variables, it may take weeks for the body to completely clear the venom and post-bite sloughing of the skin may occur.

Some of the common clinical signs associated with venomous snakebite include pain, weakness, and a severe drop in blood pressure, platelet abnormalities, lymph node involvement, uncontrollable bleeding, heart problems, convulsions and tissue necrosis of the skin in area surrounding the bite. Not all patients experience every symptom, and some patients may even manifest consequences not listed.

First aid for pets prior to veterinary examination include keeping the victim calm, maintaining the bite site below heart level if possible, and transporting the pet to a veterinary medical facility for primary medical intervention as quickly as possible. Applying a tourniquet and “cutting and sucking” for snakebite, often seen performed in movies, is strongly discouraged. Keep in mind, that simply touching a bite site with an ungloved hand could potentially poison the owner!

Standard snake bite treatment involves intravenous fluids, antivenin, complete blood counts and serum chemistry (to ascertain the effects upon the organs and red blood cells), antihistamines and antibiotics. “An owner must understand the financial commitment that goes with treatment,” adds Dr. Susan Brosman of Park Place Animal Hospital, “Antivenin is not cheap. Although some dogs may only need one dose, smaller dogs may require two. Additionally, the patient should be hospitalized and monitored closely for a minimum of 8 hours after bitten”. No question about it, treatment can be intensive, time-consuming and expensive.

There are 42 species of snakes in Georgia, and of those, 36 are nonpoisonous. Although they often incite the “yuck factor”, they are a valuable member of our eco-system. Regard them with care and treat them with respect.

Park Place Animal Hospital offers these suggestions during snake season:

1. Take your pet to the vet immediately when snakebite is suspected. The earlier antivenin is administered, the more effective it is.
2. Do not pick up snakes and handle them. Even dead snakes may bite! In fact, the majority of snakebite occurrences in humans occur after the snake has been decapitated due to muscle reflexes.
3. Identify the snake if possible, and alert veterinarian as to the species (i.e. copperhead, rattlesnake or water moccasin).
4. Snakebites are very painful; handle your pet carefully to avoid causing more pain that may lead to accidental bites by your pet.
5. Snakes tend to be territorial; therefore if your pet has been bitten you can be sure that you have an unwanted tenant that has set up housekeeping. Either you will need to cohabit peacefully or one of you will have to go.

Copyright © 2008 Lorelei Prichard DVM