Snake Bites in Dogs & Cats (Sydney): Act Fast - This Is an Emergency

Envenomated dogs & cats can die within 45 minutes of being bitten.

If you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake, take your pet to your local vet or emergency veterinary hospital IMMEDIATELY. Keep your pet calm and carry them to the car. DO NOT waste time chasing the snake. If possible, take note of the snake’s colour/patterns.  DO NOT attempt to catch or harm the snake.

Envenomated dogs & cats can die within 45 minutes of being bitten.

Pets may not yelp when bitten, and a bite mark is often not visible (fangs leave tiny punctures that are easily missed). Dogs & cats may vomit, appear weak & collapse, then appear normal again; this can still indicate a lethal dose of venom, and these animals should be IMMEDIATELY taken to a vet. Anything abnormal should be treated as an emergency.

• Stay calm and keep your pet still to slow the spread through the lymphatic system.
• Carry your pet to the car; avoid walking if you can.
• If you know where the bite is and can do so quickly, apply a firm, even pressure bandage below and over the site - DO NOT use a tourniquet or restrict blood flow.
• Remove the collar if the bite is to the face/neck (swellings can develop).
• Call ahead to your vet so they can prepare antivenom and equipment (not every clinic stocks antivenom).
• Transport immediately to the closest veterinary clinic or emergency hospital. Don’t waste time travelling further to an emergency hospital - Go to any local vet that has antivenom, and a transfer to a hospital can be organised later.
• DO NOT chase or kill the snake, try to suck out venom, clean the wound, or waste time looking for bite marks.
• DO NOT attempt to clean, cut, or suck the bite. If you’re unsure where the bite is, skip the bandage and focus on keeping your pet still and getting to your vet or emergency veterinary hospital.

If your pet was near a snake, assume they may have been bitten and seek care. Signs can vary with the species of snake and the individual pet and can take up to 24 hours to show signs in some cases. Signs include:

• Sudden collapse
• Weakness/wobbliness, especially hind-leg weakness
• Muscle tremors/shaking
• Pale gums, dilated pupils, drooling, panting, reduced blinking.
• Restlessness, pacing, anxiety
• Vomiting; difficulty breathing
• Bleeding from the nose, mouth, or bite site
• Discoloured/dark red or brown urine
• Loss of bladder/bowel control, progressing to paralysis
• Coma or sudden death in severe cases

Important: Most bite sites are not found. The absence of a visible wound does not rule out a snake bite.

Snake envenomation is treated as a HIGHEST PRIORITY EMERGENCY. On arrival, your pet may be taken straight through to the hospital area for immediate care. At VSOS emergency hospital, we will:

• Commence immediate treatment if required (with your informed consent). This may include:
  • Place an IV catheter
  • Provide oxygen if required
  • Give antivenom to inactivate as much venom as possible.
  • Plasma or blood transfusions
• If urgent treatment is not required, or a snake bite is unconfirmed, we will:
  • Perform a physical & neurological examination.
  • Perform blood tests to identify any organ abnormalities
  • Perform a snake venom identification test on your pet’s urine.

Where possible, please Call ahead en route, if going to your local vet to make sure they have the antivenom in stock.

Both cats and dogs are at risk. Dogs are more likely to interact with snakes and may be bitten during chase/play. Cats may stalk snakes in long grass. Clinical signs overlap; in either species, assume the worst and act fast.

Australia’s climate and landscape mean snakes can appear in suburban back gardens, especially in spring and summer or during hot, dry conditions. Reduce risk by:

• Clearing scrubby/bushy areas; keep lawns mown
• Removing food sources that attract rodents (a snake’s prey)
• Tidying sheds, wood piles, junk piles, and empty pots
• Observing animal and wildlife cues: noisy birds, cats stalking ground prey, and dogs fixated on one spot in the yard can all hint at snake activity

When outside, keep pets supervised, especially during the heat of the day.

How can I tell if my pet was bitten if I didn’t see it?

You often can’t tell from appearance alone. Bite marks are tiny and easily missed. If your pet was near a snake or shows any signs above, go straight to the vet emergency hospital - prompt treatment saves lives.

Should I bring the snake for identification?

No. It is dangerous and illegal to harm protected snakes. If safe, note colour/patterns and mention them to your vet. Identification is best done using a venom detection kit at the clinic.

How quickly can a snake bite kill a dog or cat?

It depends on snake species, venom dose, and time to antivenom. Respiratory paralysis can develop within 1-24 hours. That’s why immediate veterinary care is essential.

Will my local vet have antivenom?

Not all vets have all the antivenoms. At VSOS, we have both the brown and multi brown, which cover all of the snakes found here in Sydney. 

• Assume a bite if your pet was near a snake - don’t wait for symptoms
• Keep calm, keep still, carry to the car
• No tourniquets, no wound cleaning, no chasing snakes
• Apply a firm pressure-immobilisation bandage only if you know the site and can do it quickly

Call ahead and come immediately

With Australian snakes, time is everything. If you’ve seen a snake near your dog or cat, or your pet shows any concerning signs, treat it as an emergency. Keep them still, call your local vet or the vet emergency hospital,and come straight in. Early treatment with the right care, including antivenom where indicated, can make all the difference.