How to manage snake bites in cats

Usually you will not witness your cat being bitten by a snake, so it is important to know the signs to look out for.

Signs that your cat may have been bitten by a snake include the cat looking stunned and often they slobber from the mouth.

Signs to watch for:

• The cat has staring, unblinking eyes.
• There is little limb movement.
• The cat may be lying on its side or chest.
• The bite marks will indicate if your cat has been bitten by a poisonous or non-poisonous snake. Poisonous snakes leave two fang marks (puncture wounds), while non-poisonous snakes leave a row of small teeth marks.

What to do if your cat was bitten on a leg:

• Calm the cat
• Apply a broad bandage with firm pressure over the fang marks and about 5cm or two inches either side of them.

If the cat has been bitten in an area that is difficult to bandage:

• Calm the cat
• Apply an icepack or ice in towel to the site to constrict blood vessels.
• Seek veterinary help immediately. If you did see the snake, keep a good description of it in mind, as the veterinarian will choose from several different types of anti-venom in treating your cat.
• Do not apply a tourniquet as it may aggravate the problem
• Do not cut the skin at the bite site, as it will increase blood flow and spread of poison.

Follow the INJURED CAT series here:

• Part 1: How to approach an injured cat
• Part 2: How to handle an injured cat
• Part 3: Assessing the injured cat
• Part 4: When to take the injured cat to a veterinarian

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