What To Do If Your Dog or Cat Gets Bitten By A Copperhead Snake.

I read this article from FitBark and knew I had to share with all my friends and family. https://www.fitbark.com/blog/what-to-do-if-your-dog-is-bitten-by-a-copperhead-snake Please remember if your dog or cat get bitten by a copperhead snake bring them to the Vet’s office right away!!!

What to Do if Your Dog is Bitten By a Copperhead Snake

Copperhead snake bites can be fatal for dogs, especially if it’s a smaller breed that has been struck.

The first thing anyone should do if they discover that their dog has experienced a snake bite is to call the vet. Even if the snake isn’t venomous, a bite can cause a bacterial infection.

Here are few tips that will help you identify a copperhead snake:

• The snakes head is spade/triangular shaped head
• The eyes are narrow slits vs. circular and dilated
• Look for an “hour glass” pattern on the snake’s body
• A short, thick body

More reptiles tend to surface when the weather is warm, including venomous Copperhead snakes which are native to the Carolinas.

In the event that your dog gets bitten, here are helpful tips regarding what to do, and what not to do:

Do:

• Keep your pet calm, (you do not want to increase anxiety in your pet which increases their heart rate)
• Leave the area untouched, (Copperhead bites are painful)
• Seek veterinary care, (even if your pet seems fine at first, they may have complications from the bite and will benefit from pain medication)
• Try to identify the snake, (if you are not familiar with different snakes, try to get a visual description and write it down for your veterinarian-do not attempt to handle the snake)
• Remove your pet’s collar, (most bites occur in the muzzle area and can cause the face and neck to swell, making it difficult for your pet to breathe)

Do not:

• Apply a tourniquet to a limb that has been bitten
• Attempt to suck out the venom, (this is dangerous and ineffective)
• Apply ice to the bite, (this can cause the vessels in the area to clench and can lead to death of the affected tissue)

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