Snake Bites to People, Pets and Livestock
Snakebites do not typically occur because the reptile is attacking or being overly
aggressive. Rather, most are the result of the timid creature being startled and going
into self-defense mode.
“There is no need to be fearful of snakes. They aren’t trying to bite you,” said Dwayne
Elmore, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist. “Give
venomous snakes a wide birth and they will move away from you. Most bites occur when
someone either puts their hand where they can't see (and inadvertently on or near
a snake) or when someone is harassing or trying to kill a snake.”
The same can be said for pets and livestock that are bitten. The curious nature of
dogs leads to unfortunate incidents, and horses may accidentally step on a snake or
put their head down to look at the creature.
In the rare event someone is actually bitten by a venomous snake, there are several
things they should not do and one they definitely should.
“Don’t panic. Don’t use a tourniquet. Don’t cut the wound and don’t use electricity,”
Elmore said. “Just stay calm, elevate the wounded area and get to a hospital immediately.”
The advice also is true for pets, as they should be taken to the veterinarian immediately.
There are a few first-aid tactics you could try on your way, however.
“Transport your pet in a carrier rather than allowing them to walk. Keep them quiet
and warm during the trip to the veterinarian,” said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, director of
Continuing Education at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Contrary to old Western movies, tourniquets should not be applied because they can
cause additional harm. While bites from nonvenomous snakes can cause swelling and
bruising, bites from venomous snakes can have much more serious symptoms.
“Generally, there is extensive swelling that spreads rapidly. The bite wound may bleed
or produce a bloody discharge,” she said. “The bite wounds from the fangs may not
be visible due to the swelling or the small mouth size of young or small snakes. Shortly
after being bitten, dogs may demonstrate weakness, cool feet, pale mucous membranes
and hyperventilation. The gums may turn pale or blue. It’s not uncommon for snake
venom to also cause vomiting shortly after the initial bite occurs.”
The quicker pet owners are able to get their animals to the vet the better. Bites
on or near the head tend to be more severe than bites to the leg and paws. The same
is true for livestock.
“I don’t think you want to panic about snakes with horses. You have to think about
how big they are,” said Kris Hiney, OSU Cooperative Extension equine specialist. “Something
that could kill a small dog isn’t going to really hurt a horse. For horses, their
biggest risk factor is if they get bit on the face.”
A bite to or near the face can cause a lot of swelling and give the horse trouble
with breathing. Bites on the face of your horse should be seen by your veterinarian
as soon as possible.
Extreme swelling of the bite to the face of a horse could close off air flow through
the nose. Horses can only breathe through their nose and this could potentially suffocate
the horse.