29/09/2026
SNAKE SEASON ALERT 🐍
With the arrival of warmer October weather snakes are officially on the move across the Mudgee Region.
Our team at Mudgee Vet Hospital have already treated 3 snake bite cases over just this past weekend.
Because dogs and cats are naturally curious, snake encounters happen in seconds and are a true life-threatening emergency.
Here are the essential, clinical DO’s and DON’Ts to protect your pets:
✅ THE DO’S:
• DO learn the subtle clinical signs: Watch for sudden collapse (even if they seem to quickly recover), vomiting, wobbly weakness, muscle tremors, or dilated, non-blinking pupils.
• DO keep them perfectly still: If you suspect a bite, carry your pet to the vehicle. Restricting movement slows down the absorption of venom through their lymphatic system.
• DO phone ahead on your way: Call us immediately at the hospital while you are in transit so our emergency team can have the anti-venom prepped and waiting.
❌ THE DON’TS:
• DON’T wait for symptoms to appear: Envenomation clinical signs do not always show up straight away. Waiting to “see how they go” can be fatal.
• DON’T try to identify, capture, or kill the snake: This puts you at extreme risk of being bitten. Our veterinary tests can identify the presence of venom without needing to see the snake.
• DON’T apply home first aid to the wound: Never wash the bite site, apply ice, or use a tourniquet, as this drastically complicates veterinary treatment.
We are stocked with life-saving anti-venom and are on standby.
🏥 Mudgee Vet Hospital (24/7 Emergency On-Call)
104 Market St, Mudgee
6372 2105
📍 Mudgee | Rylstone | Gulgong
