GA cottonmouths and rattlesnakes can kill your pets. What to do if your dog is bitten

Chelsea Madden

Imagine going for a walk with your best pup and a snake suddenly slithers across the street and strikes. The snake bites your dog.

Your mind swirls with fear. What do you do now?

Venomous snakes in Georgia

Out of 46 snake species, only six are venomous in Georgia and only three represent a fatal threat: the Cottonmouth, Diamondback Rattlesnake and Timber Rattlesnake.

How to tell your dog has been bitten

If your dog has unusual swelling, excessive drooling and/or sudden fatigue, your dog may have been bitten by a snake.

What to do

  • Stay calm and try to identify the snake.

  • Keep the dog still and quiet.

  • Call a veterinarian immediately and/or take the dog in to be cared for as soon as possible. Even if it isn’t a venomous bite, it is still important to seek a veterinarian’s help.

  • Don’t try to DIY the wound under any circumstances; seek professional help only.

Treatment

According to WebMD, the treatment for a snakebite on a dog includes:

  • Clipping and cleaning bite wounds

  • Antibiotics if there’s a large amount of tissue injury

  • Intravenous (IV) fluids — to help them hydrate and recover

  • Special fluids (colloids) — to help with hypotension

  • Pain medications like opioids

  • Antivenom — to neutralize the snake venom in the dog’s body

  • Supplemental oxygen — to help if the dog is having trouble breathing on its own

  • Vaccine — some veterinarian clinics carry a snake bite vaccine for dogs to help protect your dog from future snake bites.

  • Steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs — only used in some cases

Tips for keeping snakes away

WebMD also has several tips for keeping yourself and your pet safe from snakes:

  • Check the foundation of the house for unsealed areas where pipes may be going in and out of the home.

  • Check for basement doors or windows that don’t seal properly.

  • Look for any openings in your home at ground level and seal them if possible.

  • Check your porch, steps, and the area where your deck connects to your home.

  • Remove piles of rocks, wood, or other debris.

  • Cut long grass and undergrowth.

  • Repair storage sheds with cracks or openings near the ground.

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