|
|
 |
Domestic Pets
Injury Guide
POISONOUS SNAKE BITES
There are many species of poisonous snakes in the world
The only really dangerous and widespread one in Europe is the Adder also known as Viper
Only about 10% of the snakes in South Africa are poisonous - see the info Guide at bottom of page
CAUSES
BITES: These are especially common in dogs, usually in summer and during walks in isolated areas
ASSESSMENT
IDENTIFY THE SNAKE: First try to discover whether the bite is really form an adder. This will not be a problem if you saw the animal being bitten and were able to identify the snake.It is very helpful to the veterinarian if you can identify the snake that is responsibleor, where possible, bring the dead snake with the patient
Often however the attack will happen when the animal is on its own, out of sight. For this reason it is important to know how to recognize the symptoms
SIGNS OF A BITE: An animal bitten by a snake is usually restless, shaking and licking the injured spot
Dogs may howl with pain & fright Carefully examine the area where you think it was bitten and look for the TWO FANG MARKS
These are usually about 1cm apart and have a dark red edge to them
The wound will swell up quite quickly and often to a considerable size
SIGNS OF POISONING: The systematic signs of poisoning are gradually increasing weakness, sometimes vomitting and a marked thirst
In the final stages impaired heart rate and breathing develop which can subsequently lead to death
The speed with which these signs appear - from a few minutes to a few hours -
And their severity - depend on how much poison was injected and whereabouts in relation to the density of blood vessels in the area, as well as how soon you intervened
TREATMENT
Non-poisonous snakebites require little or no treatment. The venomous snakebites, are another story.Animals bitten by these kind of snakes are very likely to die unless treatment is obtained quickly.Even though the bite wound is seldom painful, the generalized signs of poisoning become obvious as quickly as 15min, but sometimes several hours later.The safest procedure is to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible when snakebite is suspected
The signs of snakebite will vary depending on the type of snake involved.In general, dogs show incoordination,dilated pupils and may vomit.Paralysis develops in the hindlegs first,then the front legs
1. LOCATE THE WOUND: That was made by the bite of the snake
2. BLEED THE WOUND: Make it bleed at once - to wash out some of the poison
3. PRESSURE: Apply some pressure with your fingers around the bite
4. INCISION WITH KNIFE: If this does not cause enough blood to flow, use the point of a sharpened knife blade to make an incision for each fang mark
5. Do not resort to sucking the blood from the bite if at all possible
6. . TOURNIQUET: Seldom of use because most bites are on the head or neck of the animal,but with bites on the legs - apply a TOURNIQUET above the bite on the body to limit the spread of poison in the circulation.Make sure it is not tied so tightly that it could stop the blood flow from the incision
7. ANTI-VENON: Even though bleeding & stopping the spread of poison are crucial measures, the only really effective remedy is the injection of the appropriate ANTI-VENON
Many veterinary surgeons hold supplies, especially in the areas where bites are encountered most frequently Beware of areas and conditions where snakes may be - basking in the sun
8. SWIFT TRANSPORTATION: Having completed the steps described, organize swift transporatation to the nearest vet
9. KEEP ANIMAL STILL: The animal must be kept still and quiet, wrapped in a warm blanket
The anti-venon is generally injected half around the bite marks and half intramuscularly
POISONOUS SNAKES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 1. Black mamba
- Scientific name: Dendroaspis polylepis - Afrikaans name: Swart mamba
- Classification: Elapid (front-fanged snakes)
- Length of adults: 2,4 - 3 metres
- Colouring: The black mamba is not black, but rather olive green or dirty grey, with dark patches on its pale green belly. Juvenile snakes are paler, and darken with maturity.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - Lays 12 to 14 large eggs in summer.
- Food: Small birds and mammals, such as rodents, dassie's and squirrels.
- Distribution: Eastern coast, north of KwaaZulu-Natal.
- General: The black mamba is the largest of South Africa's poisonous snakes.
- Venom: Neurotoxic (nerve-destroying). The black mamba bites many times in succession, and its venom is extremely potent and fast-acting. If not treated immediately, a patient will most certainly die of suffocation due to paralysis.
- Antidote available: Yes
2. Green mamba
- Scientific name: Dendroaspis angusticeps<
- Afrikaans name: Groenmamba
- Classification: Elapid (front-fanged snakes)
- Length of adults: 1,8 metres
- Colouring: Bright green with a lighter green belly. Juveniles are bluish-green.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - Lays 4 to 14 eggs in summer.
- Food: Small birds and mammals.
- Distribution: Coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
- General: The green mamba lives in trees, and is often confused with the boomslang.
- Venom: Neurotoxic (nerve-destroying). Not quite as potent as that of the black mamba, but lethal nevertheless. If not immediately treated, a patient will die of suffocation due to paralysis.
- Antidote available: Yes
Among snakes, cobras and coral snakes may be singled out as having a particularly neurotoxic venom; among other animals, the venom of arachnids also falls into the neurotoxic category. The spitting cobra can spray its venom from a distance of about 2.4m (about 8 ft) into the eyes of its victims, causing temporary blindness and great pain. Venom coming in contact with human eyes causes an immediate and severe irritation of the conjunctiva and cornea that, if untreated, may result in permanent blindness. The venom of cobras, a neurotoxin, acts powerfully on the nervous system.
3. Cape cobra
- Scientific name: Naja nivea
- Afrikaans name: Geelslang or koperkapel - Classification: Elapid (front-fanged snakes)
- Length of adults: 1,2 - 1,6 metres
- Colouring: Colours vary from plain yellow to yellow-brown flecked with dark patches, to dark reddish brown. Juveniles have a dark band on the throat which fades with maturity.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - Lays 8 to 20 eggs in mid-summer.
- Food: Small vertebrates, lizards, toads and snakes.
- Distribution: Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape.
- General: Unlike the mambas, the cobra does not shy away from humans, and sometimes enters a house to escape the heat of the day.
- Venom: Neurotoxic (nerve-destroying). Much like a bite from a Black Mamba, if not immediately treated, a bite will prove to be fatal. Prompt treatment such as artificial respiration and an anti-venom injection is crucial.
- Antidote available: Yes
4. Forest cobra
- Scientific name: Naja melanoleuca
- Afrikaans name: Boskobra
- Classification: Elapid (front-fanged snakes)
- Length of adults: 1,5 - 2 metres
- Colouring: Yellow-brown fore body fleckedd with dark patches on the back, with the body becoming darker with a black tail. The belly is creamy white or yellow.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - Lays 15 to 26 eggs in summer.
- Food: Mainly toads, small mammals, other snakes and birds.
- Distribution: Forests of KwaZulu-Natal. - General: The forest cobra is often mistakken for a black mamba. It is an excellent swimmer.
- Venom: Neurotoxic (nerve-destroying). Death from paralysis is inevitable if not immediately treated.
- Antidote available: Yes
5. Egyptian cobra
- Scientific name: Naja haje annulifera
> - Afrikaans name: Egiptiese kobra
- Classification: Elapid (front-fanged snakes)
- Length of adults: 1,2 - 1,8 metres
- Colouring: Yellow-brown darkening to bluee-black with age. Belly is dull yellow flecked with dark patches. Adults have between 7 - 10 dark cross-bands. Juveniles have dark throat bands.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - Lays 8 to 25 eggs in summer.
- Food: Chiefly toads and small mammals. - Distribution: KwaZulu-Natal to Angola. - Venom: Neurotoxic (nerve-destroying). Without prompt attention, respiratory failure will occur, and eventually death.
- Antidote available: Yes
6. Mozambique spitting cobra (M'fezi)
- Scientific name:Naja mossambica
- Afrikaans name: Spoegslang
- Classification: Elapid (front-fanged snakes)
- Length of adults: 1 - 1,2 metres
- Colouring: Olive brown or greyish, with eeach scale darkly outlined. The underside is pinkish or yellowish, with dark crossbars and patches on the throat.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - Lays 10 to 22 eggs in midsummer.
- Food: Chiefly toads and small mammals, or hen's eggs.
- Distribution: KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Northern Province.
- General: The fangs are especially modified for 'spitting' venom. The poison canal openings are at the tips of the fangs. The venom is sprayed, rather than being spat, and can cover a distance of 2 metres.
- Venom: Cytotoxic (cell-destroying). Without prompt attention, serious tissue loss occurs, resulting in the necessity for skin grafts. Not life-threatening. If there is venom in the eyes, they must be washed in clean water or milk immediately.
- Antidote available: Yes
7. Rinkhals
- Scientific name: Hemachatus haemachatus - Afrikaans name: Rinkhals
- Classification: Elapid (front-fanged snakes)
- Length of adults: 1 metre
- Colouring: Olive to dark brown, with one or two white crossbars across the throat. Similar in appearance to the cobra, the rinkals displays its hood.
- Reproduction: Ovoviviparous - gives birth to 20 to 30 live young in late summer.
- Food: Chiefly toads, rodents, lizards, small mammals, or hen's eggs.
- Distribution: Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
- General: Similar to the spitting cobra, tthe rinkals can spray venom for a distance of up to 2,4 metres. This snake often 'plays dead' when threatened, and will attack immediately when picked up. The rinkals hisses while it 'spits' venom.
- Venom: Neurotoxic (nerve-destroying). Bites are rare and not fatal.
- Antidote available: Yes
8. Puff Adder
- Scientific name: Bitis arietans arietans<
- Afrikaans name: Pofadder
- Classification: Adder
- Length of adults: 90 cm
- Colouring: Distinctly patterned with chevrons. Colours vary from light yellow to brown, grey or orange-brown. Dark bands occur on the tail.
- Reproduction: Ovoviviparous - gives birthh to 20 to 40 live young.
- Food: Rats, mice and other small mammals..
- Distribution: Widespread throughout South Africa.
- General: The Puff Adder is the most common of the poisonous snakes, and is responsible for more bites than any other snake in South Africa.
- Venom: Cytotoxic (cell-destroying). Luckiily the venom is slow-acting, and takes up to 24 hours to result in fatalities. Only 5% of these bites result in death.
- Antidote available: Yes
9. Gaboon adder
- Scientific name: Bitis gabonica gabonica<
- Afrikaans name: Gaboenadder
- Classification: Adder
- Length of adults: 90 -120 cm
- Colouring: Distinctive geometric pattern on body. Colours vary from brown to pink and almost purple.
- Reproduction: Ovoviviparous - gives birth to 16 to 30 live young.
- Food: Rodents and small mammals.
- Distribution: North-eastern coast only. - Venom: Cytotoxic (cell-destroying). Simillar to that of the Puff adder, although the gaboon adder injects far more venom, as its fangs are longer.
- Bites are rare, but fatal if not immediattely treated.
- Antidote available: Yes
10. Berg Adder
- Scientific name: Bitis atropos
- Afrikaans name: Bergadder
- Classification: Adder
- Length of adults: 30 - 50 cm
- Colouring: Small triangular pattern on body. Body is greyish olive to dark brown or black. There is a dark arrow shape on the crown of the head.
- Reproduction: Ovoviviparous - gives birth to 7 to 15 live young in late summer.
- Food: Chiefly lizards and small rodents.<
- Distribution: Cape Peninsula, the Cedarberg and along the southern coastal mountain. Also the Drakensberg and Northern Province.
- Venom: Neurotoxic (nerve-destroying). Unllike the other adders, the Berg Adder's poison is not cytotoxic. No deaths have been recorded.
- Antidote available: Not necessary
> 11. Boomslang (African Tree Snake)
- Scientific name: Dispholidus typus typus<
- Afrikaans name: Boomslang
- Classification: Back-fanged snakes
- Length of adults: 1,2 - 1,5 metres
- Colouring: Their colouring varies more than any other snake, and they are often mistaken for the black or green mamba or for a common harmless green snake. Females are often drab olive, while males may be bright green, mottled in black and gold, or dark brown to black with a bright yellow belly. Juveniles are light brown with enormous emerald green eyes.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - lays 10 to 25 eeggs in late spring to mid-summer.
- Food: Mainly chameleons, tree lizards and small birds.
- Distribution: Throughout most of Southern Africa, except in dry, treeless areas.
- General: Contrary to popular belief, the boomslang does not fall out of trees onto its prey. It can open its jaw as wide as 170mm.
- Venom: Haemotoxic (affects blood-clottingg mechanism), and can result in death from internal bleeding if untreated. Luckily the venom is slow-acting, and takes up to 24 hours to have serious consequences.
- Antidote available: Yes
12. Twig snake (Southern vine snake)
- Scientific name: Thelotornis capensis capensis
- Afrikaans name: Voëlslang
- Classification: Back-fanged snakes
- Length of adults: 80 - 120 cm
- Colouring: As the name suggests, this snake is well camouflaged in a tree. It is grey-brown with pink and black fleck, and a series of diagonal pale blotches.
- Reproduction: Oviparous - lays 4 to 13 eggs in mid-summer.
- Food: Mainly chameleons, tree lizards, bats and small birds.
- Distribution: KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Province
- General: The twig snake has keyhole-shapeed pupils, and is believed to have binocular-type vision.
- Venom: Haemotoxic (affects blood-clottingg mechanism). Bites are rare.
- Antidote: None available in South Africa
**************************************
|
|
