Protecting Pets From Snakes and Scorpions

Snake bite is a real risk for dogs in much of India, particularly during and after the monsoon, and in homes bordering fields or scrub.

Reduce the risk

Keep grass short, clear rubble and woodpiles, control rodents, and avoid walking dogs through undergrowth at dusk and dawn. Cover gaps under gates and doors.

Recognising a bite

Sudden yelping and swelling, usually on the face or a front leg, puncture marks, drooling, weakness, collapse, or blood that does not clot.

Correct first aid

Keep the animal as still as possible, carry rather than let it walk, keep the bite below heart level, and go to a vet immediately. Do not cut, suck, apply ice or use a tourniquet — all cause additional harm.

Ask ahead

Find out now which clinic near you stocks anti-snake venom. That is not a question to be researching during the emergency.