A Dubbo veterinarian is urging pet owners to be vigilant as thirsty snakes begin to make their presence felt in the city.
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Dr Julia Darlington considers the current snake season will “probably be worse” because of the drought.
The head veterinarian at Duncan McGinness Veterinary Surgeon contends that both brown and black snakes will be “looking for a drink” in Dubbo.
“When we see them around in the urban areas it’s because they are looking for water,” Dr Darlington said. “They will probably try and come into people’s yards and get into dog water and stuff like that.”
Dr Darlington said properties encompassing bushland, close to the river or near open areas such as soccer fields were more at risk of attracting snakes than those in the “centre of town”.
Open spaces used for walking dogs were also frequented by snakes during the snake season that ran from “September through to April”, she said.
The veterinarian, who has used the Duncan McGinness Veterinary Surgeon Facebook page to encourage pet owners to be on the lookout for snakes, expects to treat many of their victims in coming months.
She warns that dogs can die “very quickly” after being bitten by a snake. Cats, on the other hand, were a “bit more resistant” to snake venom, the veterinarian said.
“Cats will often present not really able to get up and walk but still able to flick their tail,” Dr Darlington said. “That can happen a good few hours after they have been bitten whereas a dog if it has been bitten is often dead within 30 minutes.”
The veterinarian said dogs and cats bitten by snakes were emergency cases. “If anyone sees their pets getting bitten or playing with a snake then they need to treat it very seriously,” she said. “If they wait to see if their pets show signs at home it could be too late once they get them in here.”
Dr Darlington has also used the Facebook page to tell pet owners not to put themselves in harm’s way. “You must always remember your own safety around snakes as well and to ensure that you never put yourself in danger,” she said.