Although snake bites in cats are very rare, they can be very dangerous when they occur. Given the small size of the animal, it will receive higher doses of toxins and the effects can be fatal within an hour (based on the amount of venom injected, the place of the bite and the species of snake). If your cat is bitten by a poisonous snake, a veterinary visit within 30 minutes of the accident can increase the chances of survival. However, there are other things you can do as well.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Assessing the Situation
Step 1. Understand the effects of poison on the cat
If the cat has been bitten by a poisonous snake, it is unlikely that it will survive unless a veterinarian gives it anti-poison and anti-shock medicines. However, how you behave after the accident will increase the chances of recovery. It is therefore helpful to know the effects of the poison and the symptoms.
- Snake bites are painful and tend to cause immediate swelling. The classic snake bite shape is four rectangular shaped stings. Unfortunately, these bites may not be visible due to the cat's fur, or if the animal is too agitated to be controlled.
- The initial symptoms are: pain, heat and swelling of the wound. There may also be some bleeding from the bite or crusting.
- The poison spreads rapidly through the lymph nodes and bloodstream, attacking the entire body. Usually, the poison attacks the nervous system, causing clots, and therefore the animal quickly goes into shock.
Step 2. Try to identify the species of snake that has bitten your cat
To administer the most effective antidote, it is better to know the species of snake that attacked the cat. The most common species of venomous snake in Italy is the viper, which differs in the following species: vipera Aspis, or common viper, vipera Berus, vipera del Corno and Vipera Ursini. While in the United States, the most common venomous species are: the water moccasin, the rattlesnake, the copperhead and the coral snake.
- Never endanger your safety, but if you were to be present at the attack, try to stay calm and observe the patterns of color, length and skin of the snake. Do not approach the animal, which will not hesitate to attack again.
- If you are close enough, observe the shape of the snake's pupils. The pupil is the part of the eye that is located within the colored edges of the iris. The shape of the pupil indicates whether a snake is poisonous or not.
- Poisonous snakes have oblique pupils (similar to those of cats); while the non-poisonous ones have round pupils (like those of people). However, there are exceptions; for example, the coral snake's pupils are round.
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of shock
When a cat goes into shock after a venomous snake bite, symptoms include: agitation, shortness of breath, drooling, dilated pupils, rapid heart rate.
- Over time, symptoms progress to weakness, staggering, collapse, seizure, and eventually death.
- Some cats may also show other extra symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the urine.
Step 4. Know that not all snake bites are poisonous
To be on the safe side, always contact your vet in case of bites, especially if you think the snake is poisonous.
- However, it is good to remember that not all venomous snakes release venom with every bite, especially if they have recently killed and run out of venom.
- Due to the rapid manifestation of clinical signs (within a few minutes and certainly within an hour), if, after 60 minutes, the cat does not show symptoms of toxicity, then the poison has not penetrated its body.
Step 5. Even if the bite is not poisonous, remember to rinse the sting site
If the cat was lucky and was bitten by a non-poisonous snake (or if the snake was poisonous but did not release poison), it could still suffer from a bacterial infection due to contact with the reptile's teeth.
- Immediately after the bite, gently wash the wound with diluted salt water to clean the skin and to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.
- To make a saline solution, mix a teaspoon of salt with half a liter of previously boiled water. Wait until the water has cooled before applying it to the cat's skin.
- Talk to your vet as your pet may need to be given antibiotics.
Part 2 of 3: Providing First Aid
Step 1. Take your cat to the vet immediately
To save his life, the best thing to do is take him to the vet. Try to stay calm and reassure the cat to make him feel comfortable on the way. If the cat agitates, or panics, the poison will circulate more quickly.
- It is much more important to take your cat to the vet right away than to worry about cleaning up the wound, bandaging it or providing other first aid treatments. Don't waste time treating the wound yourself, but go to the vet right away.
- If, on the other hand, you are not alone and other people can help you treat the wound on the way, the following steps will help.
Step 2. Keep the cat as calm as possible
The agitation increases the animal's heartbeat and spreads the poison more rapidly. Try to reassure the cat and behave calmly.
- Do not let the cat walk or run (it will feel pain and therefore be agitated) because the movement increases the heart rate.
- If necessary, use a large towel or sheet to keep the cat still.
Step 3. Keep the injured limb below heart level
Keep the injured limb or head below the heart. This helps decrease the circulation of neurotoxins to the heart and slows down the distribution of toxins to the rest of the body.
Step 4. Apply gentle pressure between the bite and the heart
If possible, apply pressure behind the bite (not the bite itself) to create a barrier between the wound and the heart. By doing this, you will decrease the flow of the poison to the circulation.
- There is a small difference between the application of gentle pressure and the tourniquet. The latter, in fact, is a controversial method that many do not agree with in these circumstances. The tourniquet is generally a rope that is tied and tightened into the skin to stop the flow of venom and arterial blood.
- In this case, there is a risk that the lack of blood supply combined with the presence of the toxin will cause the affected limb to die completely, causing more dangerous infections and, in some cases, even causing the limb to be amputated in case of survival. animal.
Step 5. Consider applying ice to the wound instead
This is another controversial first aid method. In theory, ice compresses the veins in the skin and reduces blood flow, thus slowing down the distribution of the toxin.
- In fact, if ice is left on the wound for more than 5 minutes, there is a risk of thermal damage to the skin (as with tourniquet), which can cause serious complications.
- In conclusion, if you decide to use ice, wrap it in a towel or cloth to reduce skin damage; also, never leave the ice on for more than five minutes.
Step 6. Know what you don't have to do
Do not wait to take your cat to the vet to provide first aid. A treatment received within 30 minutes of the bite is essential to increase the animal's chances of survival. Leave immediately and ask someone to notify the vet of your arrival. Furthermore:
- Don't cut the wound to try to suck out the poison. This method is absolutely in vain and will only cause the cat more pain.
- Do not administer pain relievers. If you have any cat pain medications at home, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as meloxicam, do not give it to your cat. In fact, the veterinarian will have to administer anti-shock treatment, which may include intravenous steroids, which cannot be used if the animal has recently taken NSAID medicines.
- Do not apply the tourniquet. At most, it exerts pressure between the bite and the heart.
Part 3 of 3: Take the cat to the vet
Step 1. Inform the veterinarian about the type of snake your cat has bitten to allow him to administer the antidote
Once your vet knows what type of snake your cat has bitten, they will immediately give it antivenom to block further damage to the nerve and blood systems. However, the poison will have a very rapid effect and your cat is likely to be unconscious upon arrival at the clinic.
- The vet will prepare a drip to circulate the medicine to the organs and to block low blood pressure. In severe cases, the cat may need a blood transfusion as a result of damage to the red blood cells.
- If an infection has occurred in the sting area, it may also be necessary to administer antibiotics.
Step 2. understand the prognosis
The prognosis of the cat varies based on the amount of venom injected, the species of the snake and the time elapsed from the bite to the treatment. Some animals react well and can return home after 24 hours from the accident; others may need intensive care and have to spend days or weeks in the clinic. Unfortunately, despite all the heroic efforts to save the cat, some do not survive.
Warnings
- The most frequent areas of bites are: the head, neck and limbs. Unfortunately, bites in other areas of the body almost always have fatal consequences due to the proximity to the heart, because the venom circulates faster.
- Do not go near the snake even if it is dead; in fact, up to an hour after death, if touched, snakes still have the reflex of biting.
