SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Cat Care
Cat Care Tips
My
Cat Got a Snake Bite - What Do I Do?
If you are a cat owner, it is always a good idea to be prepared
for pet emergencies. A good way to prepare is to have
a pet first aid kit on hand to treat your cat. Cats that
go outdoors are always getting hurt and into trouble.
One emergency to prepare for is snakebites. While snakebites
are more common in dogs than cats, it is always good
to be prepared for such problems.
When preparing a first aid kit for your pet, there are several
items that will help you treat your cat for snakebite. You
should always have the numbers of your vet and the number to
at least two 24-hour pet clinics on hand at all times. Also,
have the number to poison control for both humans and animals
included with your first aid kit. You will also need several
bandages or torn strips of cloth in your first aid kit. Having
these basic items on hand will help you quickly treat your
cat after snakebite.
In the United States, there are several common poisonous snakes.
Rattlesnakes, water moccasins, copperheads, and coral snakes
are all poisonous. It is estimated that at least 90 percent
of cat’s that are bit by a snake are bit on the head or leg.
Bites to a cat’s body are almost always fatal. If you cat is
bit on any part of its body, it is necessary to get your cat
to medical treatment within thirty minutes. Because cats are
much smaller than humans, any snakebite can cause serious damage.
When
at cat suffers from a snake bit, your cat will have severe
pain and immediate swelling. The symptoms of snakebite will
depend on the type and size of the snake. With rattlesnakes,
copperheads and moccasins, your cat will first experience restlessness,
panting, drooling and general weakness of the body. This is
usually followed by collapsing, seizures, and severe diarrhea.
In very severe cases, the cat will go into shock and die. With
a coral snake, cats will have less swelling and pain. Although
these bites are still very serious, the symptoms will not be
as severe. Instead, venom from the snake will affect the nervous
system and cause vomiting, incontinence, paralysis, convulsions
and sometimes coma.
If you know your cat has been attacked by a snake and are
not sure whether or not the snake is poisonous, it is recommended
to get your cat to veterinarian treatment within thirty minutes.
There are many 24-hour pet clinics that can treat serious medical
conditions. Call ahead to let them know you are on the way.
Treatment is critical for a cat that has been bitten by a poisonous
snake.
If it is not possible to get your cat to treatment within
that time frame, there are a couple of things you can do to
help your cat. The most important step to take is to
gently, but firmly restrain your cat. Try to keep calm. A stressed
cat will be much harder to handle. You cat will already be
in severe pain, so it will be important to treat your cat gently.
Also, movement in your cat will make the venom spread more
quickly causing more damage. If your cat is moving or struggling
too much, try wrapping your cat firmly in a towel.
The
next step to take is to locate
the exact place of the bite. Snakebites are usually
characterized by two evenly spaced fang marks. There will
be redness and swelling in this area.
Next, you must wrap the area with bandages. If the bite is
on the leg, constrict the leg by wrapping a bandage between
the leg and the cat’s heart. Do not wrap it so tightly that
is constricts blood flow. Make sure you can slip one finger
under the bandages. Loosen the bandage for five minutes every
hour. Get to the pet hospital as soon as possible so the cat
can be treated properly.
When your cat gets snakebite, do
not wash the wound or apply ice. This can increase the absorption of the venom making your
cat sicker. Also it is not recommended to cut the wound or
to try to suck out the venom.
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