WATCH OUT! SUMMER SNAKES ABOUT

It’s well and truly snake o’clock around Hobart’s bushy fringes, as Labrador x Dalmatian Dottie, and her human Han, found out recently while walking in Knocklofty Reserve. Dottie, 13, was enjoying her usual walkies in the West Hobart nature reserve when she was barrelled off the track by a friendly young pup and bitten by what turned out to be a tiger snake. After a terrifying reaction and an emergency race to the vet, Dottie has thankfully fully recovered. Han is grateful to all who helped. “A huge thank you to the kind people who helped Dottie and I at Knocklofty - especially the bloke who carried her halfway back to the car when she was emitting at both ends (award for services above and beyond the call of duty!) - it turns out it was a tiger snake and not bullants she had been nipped by, and she wouldn’t have survived but for the support of marvellous vets and vet nurses at emergency and after hours vets.”

“We didn’t leave the house for a few days, I did need to process it, but it hasn’t put me off spending time in natural environments at all. I’d have to have a personality transplant to put me off Knocklofty! We moved two doors away from it because it cut down on my driving there twice daily!”

The very resilient Dottie has come across snakes plenty of times in her years, but this was the first time she’s gotten bitten. “She’s an old girl now, and I’ve seen her with snakes several times over her life. I know some dogs are interested, but she has always walked straight past them so I’ve not worried about her bothering them. We were just very unlucky.”

Dottie is a special pup. Han adopted Dottie from Brightside Farm Sanctuary when she was just 11 months old, with Dottie’s new life including some wonderful service to the community. “She was owned by an animal hoarder with 55 dogs, she had a very traumatic childhood. She also came to work at SASS (the Sexual Assault Support Service in Hobart) as a therapy dog with me for about six years. She’s an amazing girl, much loved by all who meet her.”

Would you know what to do if you suspect your dog has been bitten by a snake? We headed to the RSPCA for their tips. They state that dogs are the most frequently bitten animals, followed by cats, and that a 2021 study in Queensland found that most snake envenomations occur in backyards.

The following are common signs of snake bites in dogs in Australia:

• Sudden weakness followed by collapse

• Shaking or twitching of the muscles and difficulty blinking

• Vomiting

• Loss of bladder and bowel control

• Dilated pupils

• Paralysis

• Blood in urine.

The most important first aid measure you can give your dog is to seek veterinary attention without delay:

• Immediately call your local veterinarian for advice

• Keep calm, and do what you can to keep your dog calm, such as by limiting their movement, as over-excitement can worsen the effect of a snake’s venom.

• Never try to catch or kill the snake. Snakes are protected species and can be lethal so they should only be handled by professionals.

• If your dog has an obvious bite site, apply a firm bandage to the site which can help prevent the spread of venom.

• Don’t apply a tourniquet as this can cut off circulation and destroy tissue.

• It is safest for your dog to be carried to the car (preferably on a stretcher) to minimise movement.