Prevent and deal with hazards, both inside and outside your home. Home What we do Care for Animals Pet Hazards Snake Bites and Pets What we do Adoptions Dogs and Puppies Cat and Kittens Cat Care Guide Cat Care Guide: Cat Friendly Homes Cat Care Guide: Introducing The Family Cat Cat Care Guide: Petting and Cat Communication Cat Care Guide: Your New Cats Home Pocket Pets Birds Livestock Adoption fees Exceptional Owners Seniors for Seniors Program Home Ever After Intensive Breeding Taskforce Donate to support our IBTF Finding a Good Breeder Legal Implications The Animals The Business of Cruelty The Team Tip-Off Form Our Impact Social Return on Investment Sydney Education Centre Auditorium Meeting and Training Rooms Veterinary Services RSPCA Sydney Veterinary Hospital RSPCA Hunter Veterinary Hospital (Rutherford) RSPCA Broken Hill Veterinary Hospital Rescue and Rehabilitate Behaviour Pet Rehabilitation Program Lost and Found I’ve lost my pet I’ve found a pet Care for Animals Owning a Pet Costs Veterinary Care Adopting a New Pet Locating a Lost Pet Pets and Rental Properties Disaster Management Plans Enrichment Dog Care Dog Walking Guidelines Parvovirus in Dogs Barking Bathing and Grooming Identification Veterinary Care Housing Breeds Enrichment Nutrition Puppy Care Cat Care Kitten Care Identification Veterinary Care Keeping Wildlife Safe and Your Cat Happy Housing Breeds Bathing and Grooming Training Nutrition Pocket Pets Livestock Birds Housing Identification Veterinary Care Nutrition Bathing and Grooming Training Pet Hazards Toxic Plants for Pets Christmas Season Fireworks and Storms Heat Stress Snake Bites and Pets Bushfires and House Fires Droughts Education School Education School Holiday Program Kids’ Corner Youth and Animal Program Teacher and Educator Portal Community Engagement RSPCA AWARE (free education resources) Training ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care ACMGEN309 Provide Basic Animal First Aid ACMMIC401 Implant Microchip in Cats and Dogs Introducing Your Pet to a New Baby Basic Animal First Aid Introduction to Animal Enrichment Introduction to Animal Welfare Animal Welfare Our Inspectorate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1979) Working in Communities Community Aged Care Program Community Domestic Violence Program Community Homelessness Program Outreach Animal Assistance Programs Indigenous Community Companion Animal Health Program (ICCAHP) Community Branches and Programs Bushfire Response Disaster and Alerts Hot weather Fireworks and Storms Bushfires and House Fires Droughts RSPCA Pet Insurance Pet HazardsToxic Plants for Pets Christmas Season Fireworks and Storms Heat Stress Snake Bites and Pets Bushfires and House Fires Droughts Snake Bites and Pets In the warmer summer months, snakes become much more active. Because of this, pet owners must be careful to protect their pets from snake bites, and to be aware of the warning signs in case their animal is bitten. What should I do if I think my pet has been bitten by a snake? If you think your pet has been bitten by a snake, keep him calm and quiet, and take him to a veterinarian immediately. The chances of recovery are greater if he is treated early (80 per cent), with some pets making a recovery within 48 hours. Pets who are left untreated have a much lower survival rate. If your veterinarian is far away, you will need to apply first aid. Keep your pet calm and quiet, and apply a pressure bandage – a firm bandage placed over and around the bite site – to help slow the venom from spreading to his heart. Do not wash the wound or apply a tourniquet. If you can identify the snake, tell your veterinarian, but don’t try to catch or kill the snake. If the snake is dead, you can bring it with you. Otherwise, there is a blood or urine test that can identify whether your pet has been bitten and the type of snake that was responsible. Once the snake has been identified, your veterinarian can administer antivenom. Please be warned that antivenom is quite expensive and can result in a hefty veterinary bill. If you are walking your dog close to bushland, especially near water during the summer months, please keep him on a lead and avoid long grassy areas. Keep the grass low in your backyard or property, clean up any rubbish piles and clear away objects where snakes may be able to hide e.g., under sheets of corrugated metal, wood piles, etc. If you think your pet has been bitten by a snake, please call an RSPCA veterinary hospital or your local veterinarian immediately.
