Ask Dr Claire

My dog killed a brown snake yesterday morning. 24 hrs later she has bulgy eyes drooling sometimes and shakes after a drink. Drinking more water than usual, tongue is limp. What should I do?

It is likely that your dog has been bitten by the snake in the process of killing it.

Dogs show signs of snake bite envenomation anywhere between 1 and 24 hours of the bite. Some of the common signs might be:

• Dilated (large) pupils,
• Drooling,
• Vomiting,
• Trembling,
• Blood in urine or vomit,
• Weakness in the back legs which progresses to being unable to walk and difficulty breathing.

It’s essential you get your dog to your local vet immediately or as soon as possible. Call them and tell them you are on the way so they can prepare, as your dog is likely to need anti venom for their best chance of survival.

Without treatment, prognosis for snake envenomation is extremely poor. Keep as calm as you can whilst transporting your pet to the vet.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can book a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail, but don’t delay your trip to the vet.

Chat soon,

Dr Claire