Dogs are curious and tend to stick their noses in areas that venomous snakes tend to hang out. If you go hiking with your dog it is inevitable that your pet will sniff his way into getting bit by a snake. Many times they will be venomous and will cause severe problems for your dog. There are things you will need to know in order to be able to handle such a situation.
If you are on a trip exploring a ghost town for example chances are your dog will venture out and find a snake. This doesn't mean your pet will get bitten, but the chances are very good. You must keep your dog near you rather than allowing him/her to roam around. Your supervision will minimize the chances of your dog being bitten.
If the situation comes about there are ways to tell if your dog has been bitten. You will see sudden swelling, blood or fang marks typically around the face or legs, sudden drooling more than usual, pale gums, muscle spasms or twitching, weakness or lethargic even collapsing, dilated pupils, and/or experiencing severe pain. Sometimes swelling may not be seen for 24 to 48 hours later.
If this happens here are things you can do. More than anything be sure to keep your dog as still as possible. This will help prevent the venom from spreading all through the body. You can give your pet Benadryl which will help if the dog is experiencing any pain. Take your pet immediately to the veterinarian and if you cannot locate a veterinarian immediately try to keep your dog still until you do. There should be emergency clinics around in the town. Even if the doctor is miles away still try to get there since the more time you waste the worse it will get for your pet.
The severity of the bite and the type of snake will determine how bad the dog will react to the bite. Sometimes if your dog got bit by one fang rather than two or if the snake didn't have time to sink his fang(s) completely into the skin will also be a factor. Also take into consideration that not all venomous snakes are deadly. If the snake was a Cobra (which would be highly unlikely found in the United States) then it could be fatal. Otherwise, your dog should receive treatment within 24 hours so you should have time to drive to a clinic wherever you are.
