Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tiger snake bites in dogs and cats - symptoms and treatment
By Barr, S C·Published in Australian veterinary journal·1984·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical features therapy and epidemiology of tiger snake bite in dogs and cats.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A young dog or cat that has been bitten by a tiger snake may show symptoms like dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or even paralysis. Over a ten-year period, many dogs and cats were treated for snake bites, especially during warmer months. The good news is that most pets recovered well after receiving antivenom, with about 83% of dogs and 90% of cats showing improvement. However, it's important to seek immediate veterinary care after a snake bite, as quicker treatment can lead to a faster recovery.
People also search for: dog snake bite symptoms · cat snake bite treatment · antivenom for dog snake bite · young dog snake bite recovery · signs of snake bite in cats
Abstract
Snake bite was diagnosed in 125 dogs and 115 cats over 10 years. Young sporting dogs and young cats were mainly affected. More dogs (48%) were seen in contact with tiger snakes than cats (7%). One hundred and four (84%) dogs and 89 (76%) cats were bitten in the warmer months of the year (October to March). As the incidence rose in September/October, dogs were bitten on days when the temperature was near 20 degrees C or over. The commonest presenting signs were dilated pupils and absences of pupillary light reflex. Dyspnoea, hypothermia, hindleg ataxia and glycosuria were common features in cats. Vomiting, tachypnoea, hyperthermia and complete flaccid paralysis were often seen in dogs. The overall recovery rate after administering antivenene was 90% for cats and 83% for dogs. Death from anaphylaxis as a result of giving antivenene occurred in 3 cats and one dog. Dogs treated soon after being bitten recovered more rapidly. There was no correlation between the bite-to-treatment period and the treatment-to-recovery period for cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6497804/