Snake Warning
Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Rob Zammit, warned that it is now snake season. Even though the worst months (November and March) are still to come, vets around the country are already reporting cases of snakebite. Rob suggested taking these precautions to prevent your pet getting bitten:
1. Snakes hate open spaces, so keep the grass around your property as short as possible and clear away any piles of timber or rubbish.
2. Walk your dog beside you on a lead. Don’t let it run free in the long grass.
3. If you own a cat, keep it inside or set up a cat run in the backyard. Cat runs protect both cats and the environment.
If a snake bites your pet
Don’t worry about trying to apply a pressure bandage, that takes too much time. Rob recommends picking up the animal and calmly carrying it to the car. Drive straight to the vet, where therapy can begin. However, treatment is expensive (up to $1000) so prevention is much better than cure.