With ten of the deadliest snake species in the world calling Australia home, a known or suspected snake bite in your pet should always be taken very seriously.

Here’s how to help protect your pet from snake bite illness.

What symptoms do snake bites in pets cause?

Whilst different species of snake venom have some variance in their effect, the most common symptoms to look out for in pets include:

• The rapid onset of weakness, wobbliness or an inability to walk
• The pet collapsing suddenly and then (apparently) recovering
• Muscular tremors
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Unusual bleeding from the nose or mouth
• Red or brown-coloured urine

Can I help to protect my pet from snake bites?

Snakes tend to be most active throughout the warmer times of the year. Hence, spring and summer are sometimes referred to as “snake season”.

During this period, it’s a good idea to keep your pet by your side on a short leash when out walking in bushier areas, as snakes are unlikely to bite unless stepped on or otherwise provoked. You can reduce snake hiding spots on your property by clearing up empty plant pots, wood stacks, junk piles, etc, and keeping vegetated areas cleared and mown.

What should I do if I think my pet has been bitten?

If you suspect that your pet may have been bitten by a snake, it’s imperative that you seek immediate veterinary attention, as time is of the essence for effective treatment.

As much as possible, limit your pet’s movement by calmly carrying or driving them to the veterinary clinic. If you think they have been bitten on one of their limbs, you can apply a firm (but not too tight) pressure bandage, wrapping from their toes to the top of the affected limb, provided that doing so does not cause significant delay in seeking veterinary care.

With effective prevention, awareness and vigilance, you and your pet can hopefully avoid any scary scaly encounters!

If you know that your cat tends to be anxious or even “spicy” for visits to the clinic, never fear – there are lots of things we can suggest to reduce everyone’s stress and facilitate the purr-fect veterinary visit.

The right carrier

While most owners know that their cat will feel more secure and safer in a carrier (as opposed to being carried in your arms), choosing the best carrier can make a real difference, too.

The ideal carrier should have a generously sized front or side opening door to ensure that your cat can go in and out easily, plus a removable/openable top for added convenience. This allows our team to perform some examination or treatments on your cat whilst they remain huddled down in their carrier, which can help them feel safer.

Getting your cat in the carrier

With many cats unfortunately associating the carrier with trips in the car, they can understandably be reluctant to go in!

We’d recommend leaving your cat’s carrier out all the time in a quiet spot of the house, and placing a comfortable bed or blanket inside, so that your cat can start to consider it as a safe resting space.

At least ten minutes before placing your cat in the carrier for car trips, we’d also advise spraying some calming feline scent hormone inside – ask our team about this if you’re unsure.

Lastly, it can be easier to place reluctant cats into the carrier bottom-first, as this tends to create less of a struggle!

Anti-anxiety medications

For more anxious or spicy cats, we recommend discussing with our vets the potential use of gabapentin, a calming anti-anxiety medication that can be administered 1-2 hours prior to veterinary visits. This medication is generally safe and well-tolerated and can really help to reduce your cat’s stress.

For more help giving your cat a chill pill, ask our knowledgeable team!

Ngururrpa ranger Clifford Sunfly recently spotted one of Australia's rarest animals, the elusive night parrot, in the Great Sandy Desert. This region is home to the largest known population of the critically endangered bird, with new research suggesting that dingoes, which prey on feral cats, may be protecting the parrots. "Cats don’t want to travel here because of the dingoes," said Mr Sunfly, who, along with fellow rangers, is dedicated to conserving these parrots.

However, plans for a mining project in the area may pose new risks to their habitat. Mining company Agrimin has proposed measures such as fire management protocols and a nighttime road curfew to help protect the night parrots and other threatened species like the bilby. "We’re using this information to adapt our plans and minimise any impact," said Agrimin CEO Debbie Morrow.

Click here to read the full story at ABC News.

Have we recommended anti-anxiety medications for your dog or cat? Whilst this can sound concerning, try not to worry! When used correctly, these medications are generally well-tolerated and effective.

Are anti-anxiety medications commonly used in pets?

Anxiety is an issue that is increasingly being recognised in pets. Whilst this is partly attributable to an increased awareness of the symptoms of anxiety, many veterinary staff have also noticed an increase in pet anxiety since COVID – perhaps due to reduced socialisation opportunities at that time.

The bottom line? Your pet isn’t the only one requiring a little extra help with their mental health sometimes!

Will my pet always require these medications?

Depending on your pet’s type of anxiety (situational or generalised), they may require regular daily medication and/or episodic usage e.g. medication administered a couple of hours prior to predicted stressful events such as; vet visits, grooming, storms or travel. 

With good concurrent behavioural modification (“brain retraining”), some pets may improve enough to be able to be successfully weaned off their medication eventually. However, others may require their medication to be continued in the long term, and that’s OK too.

Will there be side effects?

Two of the most common anti-anxiety medications, fluoxetine (commonly used in dogs) and gabapentin (commonly used in dogs and cats), are generally safe and well-tolerated when used appropriately.

The main side effect of gabapentin usage tends to be sleepiness, whereas fluoxetine may cause nausea or tummy upset for the first few days of use until pets become acclimated to it.

In cases involving older pets or prospected long-term medication usage, it is recommended that pets undergo a general blood test first, to ensure that their organs are healthy enough to handle the drug safely.

Additionally, it’s important to ensure that you always follow the dosage instructions we have provided for that medication.

For more information on the safe usage of anti-anxiety medications in your pet, consult our mental-health aware team!

This email contains comments of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Please always consult your vet for specific advice on your pet's individual needs.

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