 |
| Molly the day she presented with a black whipsnake bite (note bite on her right arm). The bandage is to hold the IV line in place. The two-toned style was because we ran out of blue so had to add pink. We weren't being fancy with the dressing! |
Australia is famous for
its deadly venomous snakes. Companion animals are often bitten when they are
interacting with (chasing, playing with, attacking) snakes. There are plenty of
reports of dogs and cats being bitten by brown and black snakes (elapid
species), but until recently nothing published in the peer-reviewed literature
on bites from Black whipsnakes (Demansia
papuensis species group). As my co-author, herpetologist Glenn Shea, says, “Black
whipsnakes are venomous, and similar in size to the ‘traditional’ dangerously venomous
species, such as black snakes and brown snakes.
During a locum stint in
Darwin I treated a 9-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Molly, who sustained a bite
from a Greater black whipsnake. There were a number of interesting things about
this case.
 |
| Poor little Molly 72 hhours after envenomation. Note extensive bruising and swelling. (Also a yellow bandage this time because we can out of pink and blue). Fortunately she made a full recovery. |
First is that the bite
wound caused severe, painful local necrosis, swelling and tissue damage that
progressed from the time of initial presentation. Whilst there is no direct
evidence that the venom is fatal, the site of the bite and subsequent swelling
may cause life-threatening complications (for example a bite to the neck or
chest which causes swelling that may affect the airways).
Second, Molly required treatment
(pain relief, anti-inflammatories and supportive care) even though it is
anecdotally reported that these snakes aren’t harmful (humans that have been
bitten say that it really, really hurts).
Third, the dog tested
negative on a snake venom detection kit which suggests (although N=1) that
these kits cannot be used to rule out whipsnake envenomation.
 |
| A Black Whipsnake in the NT (note this snake was deceased when found). |
Of course not all snakes are to be feared - just treated with caution and good care. All snakes are deserving of respect. Including this little cutie-pie here.
Reference
Fawcett A, Shea G and
Cutter SM (2014) Black Whipsnake (Demansia
papuensis species group) envenomation in a Jack Russell terrier. Australian Veterinary Practitioner
44(2):627-630.
