With Victorians enjoying the first bout of sunshine, leading animal welfare organisation, Animal Aid, is urging all pet owners to take great caution to prevent deadly encounters with snakes when venturing outdoors with their pets.

Snakes bite to protect themselves if they perceive that they are in danger. Snake bites will often occur when people or animals try to catch or kill snakes, and these bites are avoidable.

Warm, active snakes will try to avoid people and pets and try to leave the scene well before they're approached. Colder snakes may not be able to move this quickly.

Bites occur most often between October and February when snakes are most active, so Animal Aid has a list of top tips for pet owners to avoid any chance encounters with snakes, how
to recognise snake bite symptoms and what to do if your pet does get bitten by a snake.

To avoid a chance encounter with a snake:

• Keep your backyard neat and tidy, by clearing away undergrowth and other materials such as wood piles which make great hiding places for snakes
• Keep walkways clear of brush, grass and shrubs
• Clean up spilled food, fruit and bird seed, which can attract rodents and therefore snakes
• Ensure that water features, ponds and bowls are in areas that will not attract snakes
• When walking your pet, keep them on a leash
• Steer your pet clear of long grasses, bushes and rocks
• Snakes can strike across a distance equal to about half their body length. If you see a snake, head back the way you came
• Familiarise yourself with snakes which are common in your area. In the event of a bite, identifying the type of snake may help with your pet's treatment

A snake bite rarely bleeds significantly and is notoriously hard to find so if you find a dead snake in your garden or have reason to believe your pet has been bitten, get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

A pet that has suffered a snake bite initially may show signs of sudden collapse, vomiting, trembling, salivation and excessive panting. It is possible that your dog may also appear normal.

Within approximately thirty minutes of being bitten, your pet may start to show symptoms of:

• paralysis
• weakness
• wobbly legs
• dilated pupils that are not responsive to ligh
• difficulty with breathing
• blood tinged urine

It may take several hours for the symptoms to become apparent and sometimes your pet can show no symptoms at all.

Animal Aid recommends the following if your pet has been bitten:

• Remember to stay calm
• Keep your pet calm too, by limiting their activity
• If possible, keep the location of the bite below heart level
• Seek veterinary care for your pet immediately
• Treatment options such as cold packs, ice, tourniquets, alcohol, bleeding the wound and trying to suck out venom should not be attempted in place of getting your pet to the vet – they may just waste precious time
• Always keep your personal safety in mind and do not try to catch or kill a snake yourself
• Even if you think a snake is dead, never handle it. Some dead snakes are capable of inflicting a bite by muscle contractions

Nell Thompson, Animal Aid's General Manager wants pet owners to take care when out and about this spring and summer.

"Dogs and cats are an adventurous lot so it is up to pet owners to be cautious and careful when exploring during the warmer months. Snakes are not just in the bush, they are more frequently turning up in back yards in the suburbs," she said.

"It is important to remember that snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975, and are part of the natural environment. It is illegal to kill or injure a snake, however residents can arrange for a licensed commercial snake catcher to remove them. Snake catcher contacts are available through DSE on 136 186 and local councils."