Snake Bite in Dogs: What to Do in the First Hour

Most dog snakebites in South Africa happen between October and April, in the garden, in the late afternoon, and to a dog that was investigating something in long grass or under a step. Dogs get bitten on the face and front legs because that is what they lead with.

The three that matter here

Puff adder causes massive local swelling, bruising and tissue damage. The dog is usually still bright at first, which fools people into waiting. Cape cobra and Mozambique spitting cobra cause swelling too, but the danger is progressive paralysis — a wobbly back end, drooping face, laboured breathing. Boomslang is rare in dogs but causes bleeding that starts hours later and looks like nothing at first.

You do not need to identify the snake to act. If you saw it, photograph it from a safe distance or remember the shape and colour. Never try to catch or kill it — a second bite while you are busy is a common way this gets worse.

The first hour

• Phone the vet before you drive. Ask if they hold polyvalent antivenom or where the nearest stock is. Many practices do not, and knowing that before you arrive can save an hour.
• Keep the dog still and carry them if you can. Movement moves venom. A walking dog is a pumping dog.
• Keep the bite below heart level where that is possible without a wrestling match.
• Note the time the bite happened and start marking the edge of the swelling with a pen every fifteen minutes. Vets find that genuinely useful.

What makes it worse

Do not cut the wound, do not suck it, do not apply a tourniquet, and do not pack it with ice. All four are still repeated on WhatsApp groups and all four cause harm. Do not give any painkiller from the human cupboard — several are toxic to dogs and some worsen bleeding. Do not wait to see if the swelling settles.

Cost, honestly

Antivenom is expensive and often several vials are needed, so a serious bite can run into many thousands of rand once hospitalisation and fluids are added. Ask for an estimate as soon as your dog is stable and say plainly what you can afford. Vets deal with this conversation constantly and can usually stage treatment.

Prevention that actually works

Cut long grass near the house, clear rubble and wood piles, and lift the bottom of dense shrubs so there is nowhere cool and dark at dog height. Feed the dogs indoors — spilled food brings rats, and rats bring snakes. Walk on paths rather than through veld in summer, and keep dogs on lead near rock faces and water in snake season.