What to do (and not to do) if your dog is bitten by a viper

Here's what to do if your dog gets bitten by a viper, how to treat it promptly and how to prevent the poisoning from spreading.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

With the warm season and trips to the countryside, it can happen that you have some unpleasant encounters with poisonous wild animals. Here's what to do if our four-legged friend gets bitten by a snake

In summer it is nice to go for walks in nature, perhaps in the company of our four-legged friends. But the risk of running into potentially dangerous and poisonous animals is hidden around the corner - or, rather, in the foliage. In fact, in hilly or mountain areas it is not uncommon to meet vipers and other poisonous snakes that, feeling threatened by the presence of the dog, 'defend' themselves by biting it and thus releasing a little poison into the bloodstream of our four-legged friend. 

Sometimes it can be difficult to spot a snake bite on a dog, because this may be hidden by the animal's fur: since snakes have small razor-sharp fangs, the site of the wound bite may have only faint sting marks, which could suggest a simple scratch (it is rare that there are bruises, swelling or redness in the place of the bite). In addition to this, our dog may not immediately show the symptoms of poisoning (even severe) making it difficult to rescue: in fact, the more time elapses between the poisonous bite and the treatment, the more difficult it will be to save the life of the dog. our dog.

Among the main effects of viper venom we can mention:

• Hemotoxic: impairs blood clotting and causes hemolysis
• Vasodilator: causes dilation of the peripheral vessels by lowering the systemic pressure and increasing the ease of diffusion to the whole organism
• Neurotossico: impairs the functionality of the nervous system
• Histotoxic: causes tissue necrosis

What are the symptoms of poisoning?

• Collapse, followed by apparent recovery
• Lethargy, weakness and lack of strength
• Muscle tremors, tremors and reduced blinking
• Dilated pupils
• Complete paralysis
• Inability to control bladder (with dark, often bloody urine)
• Irregular bleeding from the nose, bite site, mouth

As we have said, these reactions can appear even after a few hours after the bite. If we fear that our dog has suffered the attack of a poisonous snake, we must immediately contact a veterinarian: this will perform a blood test to understand if the dog has actually been bitten by a snake and what snake it is.

What to do in case of a snake bite?

• First of all, don't panic and stay calm, so as not to risk frightening the dog.
• Then contact a veterinarian immediately, advising him of the fear of snake poisoning.
• If possible (if we are able to find the bite) we tighten the part with a bandage or a strip of fabric: this will prevent the poison from spreading in the body and reaching the heart (but be careful not to tighten the limb too much so as not to interrupt the blood supply.
• Meanwhile, disinfect the bite area with hydrogen peroxide to reduce the absorption of the injected venom.
• If the bite wound is on the face or neck, remove any dog ​​collar as the area may swell.
• Never try to suck poison from a dog's bite wound with your mouth - if you have an open wound in your mouth and the venom enters your bloodstream, it could be lethal.
• Do not make cuts or incisions on the area affected by the bite: it would promote the circulation of the poison in the blood rather than its elimination.

In general, snakes are unlikely to bite dogs, cats, and humans; however, if stepped on, attacked or provoked, they can bite, piercing fur and flesh to often release a fatal dose of the toxin. Furthermore, even if some species of snakes are classified as non-poisonous, you must not let your guard down: the wounds caused by a possible bite could still become infected and require the attention of a doctor or a veterinarian.

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Fonte: Animal Emergency Service

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