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Overview

Snake envenomation is poisoning from the bite of a venomous snake. The severity depends on the species of snake, the amount of venom injected, and the size of the animal bitten.

Causes

Venom is injected during a defensive or predatory bite. Pit viper venoms tend to cause tissue destruction, swelling, and bleeding, while elapid venoms (cobras and some Australian species) tend to cause paralysis and breathing failure.

Signs

Signs include puncture wounds, rapid painful swelling, bruising and bleeding, weakness, collapse, drooling, dilated pupils, muscle tremors, paralysis, and difficulty breathing. Signs can progress quickly.

The site of the bite, often the face or a limb, may become severely swollen and bruised within minutes.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on a witnessed bite or characteristic wounds and signs, supported by blood tests for clotting abnormalities and muscle or organ injury, and identification of the snake when possible.

Treatment & Management

Treatment may include species-appropriate antivenom, intravenous fluids, pain relief, wound care, and respiratory support for paralytic venoms. Affected animals are monitored closely for delayed complications.

Prevention

Keeping animals away from snake habitat, leashed walks in risk areas, and, where available, snake-aversion training and vaccines reduce exposure.

If a bite occurs, the animal should be kept calm and carried rather than allowed to walk, and taken to a veterinarian immediately; home remedies such as tourniquets or cutting the wound are harmful and should be avoided.