With warmer weather in Wagga comes a pet owner's worst nightmare; the risk of a pet coming into contact with a venomous snake.
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Rosemary McKean from Moorong Veterinary Clinic said the risk of snake bites was higher at this time of year.
"As the weather warms up and people are out more, pets are running through the long grass or cats are out stalking things then there's a chance of interaction between our pets and snakes," she said.
Dr McKean said now was the time for pet owners to think about keeping their lawns mowed and gardens tidy, as well as keeping dogs on leashes or out of long grass on walks, especially near water.
If a pet does encounter a snake, Tristan Robinson from Wagga Veterinary Hospital said acting quickly but safely was the most important thing.
"The first thing to do is try your best to remain calm, your safety is always paramount, don't try and wrangle the snake off your dog," he said.
"As soon as you can, ring a vet for advice."
Dr Robinson said much of the first aid generally used on humans would not work with pets, and it was important to get the pet to the vet as soon as possible, carrying them if viable to prevent them from moving.
He said the success rate for antivenom was "quite high" if administered within half an hour.
If a pet owner is unsure whether their cat or dog has been bitten by a snake, Dr Robinson said it was best to bring them in and a blood test would be able to determine whether antivenom was needed.
Symptoms of a snake bite in dogs include vomiting, seizures, hypersalivation, excessive panting, lethargy and being wobbly on their feet.
Dr McKean said it was important to remember dogs often appear to recover and shake the symptoms off, but their condition would deteriorate again without medical attention.
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She said cats were more likely to present with signs of paralysis.
"They creep along low to the ground or they bunny hop with their hind legs," she said.
While cats had a higher chance of recovering without antivenom, Dr McKean said pet owners should still bring them in because they were likely to experience four to five days of paralysis.
She said smaller snakes were likely to present a higher risk because they were often younger and more prone to using venom out of panic.
When trying to get a pet away from a snake, she advised owners to remember the snake is likely also wanting to get away from the situation.
"The snake's generally trying to get out of your way so if you can call your pet back and just stay nice and still, slowly back away keeping an eye on the snake if it's safe to do so, that's going to be your best course of action," she said.