Living in the Australian bush is glorious, and it also has its challenges. This year the weather has highlighted a lot of the dangers farm families face that relate to storm events such as lightening strike, bushfire and sudden rain deluge. But nothing is as sudden and needs more immediate action than snake bite. You all know Simba, a teenage maremma livestock guardian who takes care of our poultry flock. Last Thursday Simba had an encounter with a brown snake and I was given the opportunity to learn first hand about dog first aid and snake emergencies. This is what I now know * Every minute counts * Whatever the other possibility assume it IS a snake. Unless youve witnessed the attack only a skilled vet can really be sure it is a snake bite (and not that rat bait youve just put in the hay shed) * Venom from different types of snakes produce different symptoms and require different treatments * Do not encourage the dog to get up or walk- this hastens the poison moving through the dogs system- carry him to the car and transport to veterinary care immediately. Simba was bitten by an Eastern Brown snake and was lethargic and paralyzed within a few minutes of the bite. Observed at a distance, it would have been easy to assume he was asleep. I did, until I realised he hadnt reacted to a car arriving in the driveway. Snakebite symptoms in dogs can be: * Dull * Depressed * Pace around anxiously * Vomiting * Panting * Collapse straight after being bitten and then act normally for a period of time * Collapse * Paralysis * Become comatose Or none of the above :( Our vet, Jan Spate is a compassionate and skilled woman with an incredible knowledge and understanding of Australian fauna and I thank the universe OFTEN that she is our local vet. Jans skill saved Simba- hes a big dog with a thick protective coat that probably saved his life (or gave us extra time to seek help at least) but it still took two doses of antivenin to combat the poison in his system. Jans advice to me as an isolated rural resident was to always have vitamin C on hand as a good first aid strategy in dealing with snakebite. Knowing how to administer and ensuring we always have vitamin C here is critical as the risk is that Simba, in his line of work, will inevitably come face to face with more snakes. Thank you so much Jan. Simba is almost good as new- pretty scruffy looking but happy to be home and working again-though sleeping more frequently perhaps -but thats understandable.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 22:59:11 +0000
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