dogdaze

It’s that time of year when snake bites are common in dogs, especially dogs that live outdoors with access to woods, pastures, creeks, lakes or stock ponds.

My Labradors love to go swimming in my neighbor’s large stock pond, where I suspect a couple of them have been bitten by snakes in the past.

Most of the snake bites I have seen in dogs are bites to the head or neck areas. Common snakes in this part of Texas are rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins.

It’s fairly easy to determine if a dog has been bitten by a snake because of the two puncture wounds and blood at points of entry. There also will be lots of swelling and pain in the bite area. Other signs your dog has been bitten by a snake include weakness, vomiting, tremors and depressed respiration.

If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a snake, take immediate action by restricting your dog’s movement. Never try to aspirate the venom. Seek immediate veterinary attention for your dog.

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