A venomous bite is called an envenomation. Venomous snakes found in the U.S. include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins and coral snakes. Each year, an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S., and about five of those people die <Link>. According to the Morris Animal Foundation, approximately 150,000 dogs and cats in the United States are bitten by venomous snakes each year. Of them, about 80 percent of dogs survive venomous snake bites with prompt care.
Diana Carter, DVM, and Ashley Allen-Durrance DVM, DACVECC, provide additional snake bite risk details and share a detailed case report describing a snake bite that resulted in severe envenomation and extensive treatment. The article includes a discussion around the available antivenom products, specific care, and possible adverse reactions to treatment.
Source: Today’s Veterinary Practice, August 9, 2022. Link.
Also see: What to do during a snake encounter with a pet, ASPCA, August 19, 2019. Link.
INSIGHTS: While looking for possible YTD 2022 statistics we discovered some startling facts about human snake bites <Link>:
- 57 percent of snake bites happened to people handling the snake
- 28 percent of those bitten by a snake were intoxicated
- 55 percent of bites are to males between the ages of 17–27