Discussed in this article:- When is peak snake season?
- Your pets and wild snakes
- What are the chances of being bitten by a snake?
- Which snakes should you worry about?
- What to do if your pet gets bitten
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Our slithery friends are shy creatures, wonderful for the ecosystem and will do nothing to intentionally harm us or our pets - unless provoked. With just a little extra vigilance you can prevent yourself and your pet from accidentally being bitten or spat with venom in the eyes. And if the unthinkable does happen - it’s good to be prepared.
...if the unthinkable does happen - it’s good to be prepared.
When exactly is peak snake season?
In South Africa, snakes are most active from September to November. Just like the rest of us, during spring they come out of their holes to enjoy sun-tanning, looking for food, and getting their ‘hanky-panky’ on. Snakes don’t eat at all in winter because they can only digest food in warm weather, so you can only imagine how excited they must be.
Most bites occur in the early evenings when they are active and out looking for food.
Your pets and wild snakes
Dogs and horses are most at risk because of their curious nature, but cats have an innate, amazing ability to sense the danger and are rarely bitten. Cat owners may be presented with a sacrificial snake on the front door mat instead.
Nobody wants to be on high ‘snake alert’ while out and about with their animals, and for most of the year I’d say it isn’t necessary - but particularly from September to November it may be wise to take a few precautions:
1) Before leaving for an outdoor adventure, find out where the nearest medical/vet facility is and note the telephone number.
2) Educate yourself about the dangerous snakes in our country - there aren't as many as you think.
3) If you are in known snake terrain, discourage your pet from pursuing high-risk activities like sniffing around in shrubbery, bouncing through long grass and digging in holes.
4) If your dog’s listening skills are subpar, perhaps keep them on the lead during this time - rather safe than sorry.
5) For horses - avoid walking on warm pavements after sunset. Trust your horse. If they seem nervous about a particular area, give them the benefit of the doubt and steer them away. Use stronger lower leg wraps to avoid snake bites.
6) There is no magical method for keeping wild snakes out of your garden or home, but ensuring that the garden is clear of rubble and debris reduces the risk of a snake finding food or shelter there.
What are the chances of being bitten by a snake, and dying?
If you and your pets are further than 5m away from a snake you are safe, and most snakes will move away quickly when disturbed.
The stats say that in South Africa, a country of 60 million people, only around 1000 people are hospitalised for snake bites each year and less than 50 die. If we consider that snakes are only active for half the year, this means 50 people die in 6 months because of snakes.
To put this in a different perspective, in 3 months (April - Jun 2022) in South Africa:
- 1382 people were murdered because of arguments and retaliation - common misunderstandings, road rage, provocation (speech that makes someone angry), revenge and punishment.
Anyway, back to snakes. They are a reality too.
The snake-related deaths on record are usually a result of a bite from a snake with neurotoxic venom like the Cape Cobra or Black Mamba. Luckily for us, these snakes are not prone to biting. ‘Neurotoxic’ means that the venom goes straight to your nervous system, your pain is minimal and your death is quick. Not a bad way to go really, if you think about it.
All in all, most snake bites are not venomous and less than 20% require hospitalisation/antivenom treatment.
Don’t take the risk though - if you suspect that your pet has been bitten, seek medical attention as soon as possible. If the bite is venomous, timing is important.
Even if it isn’t venomous, you want to do everything possible to relieve the pain and swelling and a vet can give you the best advice.
Which snakes should you worry about?
South Africa has 176 different types of snakes.
44% of them are not venomous
28% are mildly venomous (but not considered dangerous)
16% are capable of very painful bites
and 11% are considered potentially deadly.
90% of all snake bites are inflicted by only 4 snakes.
Get to know them.
1) Puff Adder
The Puff Adder is widespread over much of South Africa and often ends up in suburban gardens. It is a bulky and sluggish snake that relies on camouflage to escape detection. Its venom is potently cytotoxic, causing progressive pain, swelling, blisters and severe tissue damage. Dogs are often bitten by this snake and need to be taken to a vet urgently. The SAVP polyvalent antivenom is effective against the venom of this snake and human fatalities are rare.
2) Mozambique Spitting Cobra
The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is one of South Africa's most problematic snakes. They are found in southern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Gauteng, Limpopo and Northwest.
It is largely active at night and is notorious for ending up in huts, houses and game lodges and biting people while asleep. These bites are often to the face, arms, hands, and chest and appear to be a feeding response – they are confusing sleeping humans for a meal. Ensure that exit doors seal well or install mosquito-proof doors. People in rural areas are encouraged to sleep under mosquito nets.
The venom of this snake is potently cytotoxic, causing pain, swelling and tissue damage. The SAVP polyvalent antivenom, if administered early and in large quantities, is effective against the venom of this snake and human fatalities are rare. This snake also spits its venom.
3) Stiletto Snake
The Stiletto Snake is common in Kwazulu Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo as well as much of Northwest. It comes to the surface on warm summer nights, especially after rain. This little snake has large fangs that protrude out of the side of the mouth, even when closed, and many people get bitten when handling one.
Its venom is cytotoxic causing severe pain, some swelling, and in severe cases tissue damage. Many victims lose a digit or two and there is no antivenom for the bite of this snake.
4) Night Adder
The Night Adder favours damp areas as it feeds largely on toads. Despite its common name, it is more active during the day and bites occur largely when people stand on them. The venom of this snake, though not considered potentially lethal, is cytotoxic and may cause severe swelling and discolouration around the bite site. Victims may have to be hospitalised for pain treatment and rehydration. Symptoms may last a week or two and tissue damage is rare. There is no antivenom for Night Adder venom.
Generally speaking, the following indicates a dangerous snake:
- The snake raises its head from the ground and makes a hood when threatened or inflates the front of its body.
- The snake has bands across its body as opposed to stripes along its length. A chevron pattern is also a sign of danger.
- Heavy-bodied snakes with a distinct neck and triangular-shaped head
...At the core of it, there are only 2 things to do if you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake...
What to do if your pet gets bitten?
At the core of it, there are only 2 things to do if you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake:
1) Remind yourself that panicking is not going to help the situation. If the snake is still on the scene, quickly take a picture of it so that a vet can identify the bite and take appropriate action. If you aren’t able to take a picture, take a moment to make a mental note of what the snake looks like and notice its colour, shape and markings.
2) Get your darling to the nearest vet as swiftly and as calmly as possible. Notify the vet before your arrival so that they are ready for you.
FURTHER READING
The following is great advice from the Director of the Tygerberg Poison Information Centre (City of Cape Town), Dr Carine Marks. It can generally be applied to both humans and pets, but remember that side effects of a bite develop faster the smaller the body that was bitten is.
- In the case of a snakebite, get the patient to a medical facility as soon as possible. Phone ahead to notify them of the arrival of a snakebite victim. Note that, in most cases, you have a couple of hours before serious life-threatening symptoms manifest themselves.
- Immobilise the patient if possible. If alone, keep calm and do not walk too fast or run as it speeds up the distribution of the venom. Do not suck the bite site and do not apply a tourniquet.
- ONLY in suspected neurotoxic bites (mamba or Cape cobra) is it recommended that you apply a wide crepe bandage firmly above the bite site (as tightly as for a sprained ankle) to slow the spread of venom to vital organs like the heart and lungs.
The life-threatening neurotoxic effects of the mamba and Cape cobra bites (such as difficulty in breathing) develop within 30 minutes to 4 hours.
If you are more than two hours away from medical assistance, respiratory support (e.g., mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) may be necessary.
The life-threatening effects of a cytotoxic snake bite (e.g., puff adder) develop late (6 to 24 hours). Comforting and reassuring the patient is a very important part of the first aid treatment.
Try to get a good description (or photo) of the snake.
Please note that antivenom should only be administered by the trained medical staff in a medical facility,” Dr Marks concluded.
References
Photo credit: https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/
https://ingwelala.co.za/archives/fauna-flora/snakebite-season.html
https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/snake-season-here-what-you-need-know
The diagnosis and management of snakebite in dogs – a southern African perspective A L Leisewitza*, R S Blaylockb, F Kettnera, A Goodheada, A Goddard and J P Schoeman
https://www.ebervet.com/snakes-dog-need-know/
https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/articles/pets-and-snakebite/
https://tah.co.za/2020/10/09/dog-vs-snake-a-confrontation-pet-owners-want-to-avoid/
https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/articles/snake-season/
https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/news/newsletters/snake-season-2/
https://largeanimal.vethospitals.ufl.edu/resources/what-to-do-if-a-snake-bites-your-horse
https://africageographic.com/stories/snakebite-season-southern-africa/