SNAKE BITE
Important snakes in the immediate Charleville district:
Australia’s venomous snakes are all Elapid (cobra type) snakes. We encounter three seriously venomous snakes in the local area – Eastern Brown (uncommon), Western Brown and Mulga. Mulga snakes are also referred to as ‘King Browns’, but it is important to remember that they are actually black snakes and require black snake antivenom.
Some areas have other venomous snakes. In Western districts there are Fierce snakes or Western Taipans, so be sure to tell your vet where you are calling from.
Notes on identification (from a distance!)
Identification is best done by an expert as colour and patterning are extremely variable. However in general;
Brown snakes
Tend to have a creamy belly with orange or blue/black spots. Colour of their back is highly variable and so not particularly useful in identifying the snake. They can be pale or dark brown, banded, spotted, patchy or uniform in colour.
Mulga snakes
These snakes have a more muscular looking head with a slightly thinner neck. They are uniformly coloured from head to tail. Do not have a creamy, spotted belly like the brown snakes. Can be very BIG snakes.
Types of venom:
Brown snakes – most important toxins
- Neurotoxin – progressive paralysis of muscles, including muscles controlling breathing
- Procoagulant – causes problems with blood clotting
Mulga snakes – most important toxins
- Myotoxin – muscle damage
- Nephrotoxin – kidney failure
- Anticoagulant toxin – inability of blood to clot, resulting in bleeding
What to look for:
Can affect dogs, cats and even horses ·
- Trembling, agitated
- Hindlimb weakness – often still wag their tail
- Sudden collapse followed by apparent recovery, then deteriorate 24 hours later
- Difficulty breathing
- Very dark urine
- Pale gums
- Dilated pupils
- Can progress to coma and respiratory failure
- Often impossible to find where the animal was bitten.
What do I do?
Most importantly, GET TO YOUR VET.
If possible have a basic description of the snake – do not try to catch it!
Keep your animal quiet and calm. If you know where the animal was bitten, apply a firm (not tight) bandage to the limb, starting at the top. Large doses of Vitamin C may be of benefit – talk to your vet regarding dose and method of administering.
Can snake bite be treated?
Snakebite victims are given antivenom directly into the vein. This can still be of some value several days following the bite. Antivenom itself can produce allergic reactions in some patients, so all necessary precautions are taken. Patients are given intravenous fluids, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and possibly adrenaline, and watched VERY closely while antivenom is given.
Nursing is VITALLY important over the next few days.
- Bedding - warm, dry and soft. Keep patient comfortable and avoid pressure sores.
- Feeding – Paralysis will also affect the muscles associated with chewing and swallowing. Only feed if the patient is able to sit up on their own. It is far safer to withhold food for a couple of days than for the patient to inhale food particles and develop aspiration pneumonia. Soft food is used initially when the patient is ready to eat.
- Toileting – take on short toilet trips if the patient is up to it, otherwise keep the bedding free of urine and faeces. Animals that are unable to go to the toilet on their own should be hospitalised.
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Important snakes in the immediate Charleville district:
Australia’s venomous snakes are all Elapid (cobra type) snakes. We encounter three seriously venomous snakes in the local area – Eastern Brown (uncommon), Western Brown and Mulga. Mulga snakes are also referred to as ‘King Browns’, but it is important to remember that they are actually black snakes and require black snake antivenom.
Some areas have other venomous snakes. In Western districts there are Fierce snakes or Western Taipans, so be sure to tell your vet where you are calling from.
Notes on identification (from a distance!)
Identification is best done by an expert as colour and patterning are extremely variable. However in general;
Brown snakes
Tend to have a creamy belly with orange or blue/black spots. Colour of their back is highly variable and so not particularly useful in identifying the snake. They can be pale or dark brown, banded, spotted, patchy or uniform in colour.
Mulga snakes
These snakes have a more muscular looking head with a slightly thinner neck. They are uniformly coloured from head to tail. Do not have a creamy, spotted belly like the brown snakes. Can be very BIG snakes.
Types of venom:
Brown snakes – most important toxins
- Neurotoxin – progressive paralysis of muscles, including muscles controlling breathing
- Procoagulant – causes problems with blood clotting
Mulga snakes – most important toxins
- Myotoxin – muscle damage
- Nephrotoxin – kidney failure
- Anticoagulant toxin – inability of blood to clot, resulting in bleeding
What to look for:
Can affect dogs, cats and even horses ·
- Trembling, agitated
- Hindlimb weakness – often still wag their tail
- Sudden collapse followed by apparent recovery, then deteriorate 24 hours later
- Difficulty breathing
- Very dark urine
- Pale gums
- Dilated pupils
- Can progress to coma and respiratory failure
- Often impossible to find where the animal was bitten.
What do I do?
Most importantly, GET TO YOUR VET.
If possible have a basic description of the snake – do not try to catch it!
Keep your animal quiet and calm. If you know where the animal was bitten, apply a firm (not tight) bandage to the limb, starting at the top. Large doses of Vitamin C may be of benefit – talk to your vet regarding dose and method of administering.
Can snake bite be treated?
Snakebite victims are given antivenom directly into the vein. This can still be of some value several days following the bite. Antivenom itself can produce allergic reactions in some patients, so all necessary precautions are taken. Patients are given intravenous fluids, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and possibly adrenaline, and watched VERY closely while antivenom is given.
Nursing is VITALLY important over the next few days.
- Bedding - warm, dry and soft. Keep patient comfortable and avoid pressure sores.
- Feeding – Paralysis will also affect the muscles associated with chewing and swallowing. Only feed if the patient is able to sit up on their own. It is far safer to withhold food for a couple of days than for the patient to inhale food particles and develop aspiration pneumonia. Soft food is used initially when the patient is ready to eat.
- Toileting – take on short toilet trips if the patient is up to it, otherwise keep the bedding free of urine and faeces. Animals that are unable to go to the toilet on their own should be hospitalised.
Back to Articles of Interest
