January and its hot! Unfortunately this weather brings out those slippery snakes...our first snake bite patient of the year arrived just one day into the New Year. Do you know what signs you might see if your dog has been bitten by a snake? Lucy, one of our experienced vet nurses, has put together a check list for you

• Salivation (drooling)
• Enlarged pupils
• Vomiting
• Hind limb weakness (is common however forelimb weakness is also possible)
• Rapid breathing
• Depression
• Initial collapse followed by sudden recovery
• Seizures

Snake bite symptoms can occur almost immediately to many hours after the event. You are likely to see signs within 6 hours however this is not always the case.

It is very important to be aware that some dogs can collapse immediately after a snake bite but then suddenly recover and act as if nothing happened. THIS INDICATES A LETHAL DOSE MAY HAVE OCCURRED AND YOU SHOULD TAKE YOUR DOG TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY. If treatment is delayed until the recurrence of signs then the likelihood of treatment being effective is much reduced. The recovery period can last between 30 minutes and 4 hours.

If your pet has been playing with a snake (dead or alive) you should assume that they have been bitten and bring them to the vet immediately. (If the snake is dead please bring it along in a bucket also so we know which antivenom is best to use. If not we can do a venom detection test on blood or urine which is accurate but expensive.) Previous bites do not give your pet any immunity against future bites.

A prompt reaction to a suspected snakebite means a better chance of survival.

Keeping calm is key. Try and keep your pet as still and calm as possible to slow the progression of the venom around the body. If you know where your pet has been bitten try and keep the bite site lower than the level of their heart.

Cats present with similar symptoms to described here but due to their behavioural differences to dogs are normally seen later after being bitten. Most cats we see have been bitten by brown snakes and present in flaccid paralysis. They have a good chance of recovery and despite usually being seen much later after being bitten than dogs more survive than not after appropriate treatment and hospitalisation.

It's grass seed season again and unfortunately these little terrors can cause your pet serious problems. 

There are some types of grass seeds that are shaped like a pointy needle and once caught in your pet’s fur they can start to burrow aggressively into their skin. 

If the seed does not exit, a painful abscess can develop. This invariably leads to the need for surgery to remove the seed or its remnants.

What to look out for:

• excessive licking  - often one of the first signs
• a swelling or lump - especially between toes, under armpits
• pus and bloody discharge from a burst abscess

Occasionally a grass seed will end up in your dog’s ear canal causing major irritation - your pet may shake his head violently or turn his head to the side. Ear infections present in a similar manner so a check up with us is always essential. 

Top tips: 

Keep your pet out of long grass and keep their fur clipped short - especially around the feet.

Check your pet's coat for grass seeds daily and after every walk - concentrate under the paws, between the toes, around the ears and in the armpit region. You'll be amazed how many seeds can become hidden in your pet's coat - and they are just waiting to cause trouble!

With the warm weather comes the pesky things that cause allergies. Fleas, ticks and other biting insects commonly set off an attack of the itches.

Pets can also be allergic to grasses, trees, plant pollen, dust mites and moulds, as well as certain foods.

Itchy dogs may bite, lick or scratch with their legs. Cats tend to over-groom (constantly lick) certain areas, causing hair loss.

Itching quickly leads to self-inflicted trauma of the skin and this causes secondary infections. Treatment becomes more complicated and more costly once infection occurs.

Top tips: 

• Be absolutely vigilant with flea treatment all year round. Fleas are a major cause of itchiness and regularly using a flea treatment is cheaper than treating an itchy pet!
• Keep your pet away from known 'problem' plants - including Wandering Jew and Paspalum grasses
• Avoid fishy foods for cats - you may be surprised but these can often be an underlying cause of allergies (skin and gastrointestinal)
• Some pets may find relief with an antihistamine - ask us for information

The good news is, we can prescribe certain drugs to help break the itch, lick and scratch cycle. We can also perform allergy testing to help get to the bottom of the problem.

Call us today for advice.