Veterinary nurse Kim Coulson and vet David Guest watch over Skitz, who was bitten by a snake on Tuesday. Picture: Meagan Rogers.
By Sarah Schwager
A CRANBOURNE vet has warned Casey’s animal owners to beware after two cats were bitten by snakes in the past week.
Veterinarian David Guest from the Casey and Cranbourne Veterinary Hospital said normally he saw two or three snakebite cases a summer, yet they had already treated two in less than a week.
“We normally don’t expect to see snakes this early,” Dr Guest said.
Two-year-old male Buster was brought in last Thursday with a suspected snakebite while three-year-old male Skitz is still recovering after being bitten on Tuesday.
Dr Guest said hopefully both felines would survive, but there was still a way to go.
“Dogs tend to die as they are susceptible to the neurotoxin in the snakes’ venom. This causes muscle paralysis and they asphyxiate,” he said.
“Cats tend to be more resilient to the neurotoxin but not the monotoxin, which sometimes leads to kidney failure later down the track due to the massive muscle damage.”
Dr Guest said many pet owners could not afford the anti-venom for their animal, with one vial costing nearly $1000, and the standard dose being two vials.
He said the best thing to do was for dog and cat owners to always try to keep their animals locked inside at night.
He said people walking their dogs off leads also needed to be wary and keep a cautious eye out around long grass and water, for example around the lake at Casey Fields.
Dr Guest said both cats were bitten around the outskirts of Cranbourne, with one in Cranbourne South and the other at Brookland Greens Estate.
He urged people in the outer estates near scrubland to be particularly careful.
Dr Guest said with snakes out so early this year it meant their bite was much more lethal.
“They have just come out of hibernation so they have large doses of venom in their glands,” he said.
“If anybody suspects a snakebite they should take their pet to their local vet straightaway.
“The muscle paralysis is very slow and hard to reverse.
“Before this happens or until the muscle releases is the only chance for the anti-venom to work. If people wait until there is a sign of weakness or paralysis it is often too late.”
