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RSPCA NSW warns pet owners that extra care should be taken to keep pets safe and healthy from summer’s pests and parasites.
 "One big concern during hot summer months is snake bites," said RSPCA NSW Chief Veterinarian Dr Magdoline Awad. Snakes will be more prominent now, as they look for food and mates. "At the beginning of summer, the venom of snakes is more toxic and snakes are more aggressive," warns Dr Awad. Tiger and Brown snakes are common culprits when domestic pets are bitten.
To help prevent snake bites, walk your animals on leads rather than letting them run off (especially in bushland areas near water). At home, keep lawns and grass height low and clean up any rubbish piles where snakes might hide. If you think your pet has been bitten, keep him calm and quiet, and get to a vet immediately. Pets left untreated have a much lower chance of survival.
If you can identify the snake, tell your vet – but don’t try to catch or kill the snake. If the snake is already dead, bring it with you. Otherwise, there are blood or urine tests that can identify whether your animal has been bitten and the type of snake responsible.
Ticks can also pack a deadly punch and due to the higher-than-average spring rainfall, the Australian Veterinary Association has advised this season will be one of the worst on record for ticks. To help prevent bites, make sure flea and tick treatments are up to date – speak with your vet to confirm proper dosages, as many preventatives for dogs are toxic to cats. It’s also a good idea to check your animal’s coat every day for ticks. "Native animals are a host for ticks," said Dr Awad. "So if you have blue tongues or possums living nearby, you might also have ticks about."
If you find a tick on your pet, keep the animal calm and quiet. "Any activity may result in the toxins spreading more quickly throughout the body," cautions Dr Awad. Signs of tick paralysis include weakness in the back legs, change in voice or coughing. It’s imperative that you get your animal to the vet as quickly as possible, as paralysis progresses very quickly and animals can die within hours.
Spiders can also cause serious problems for animals. Dogs are more tolerant of spider bites than cats, but are certainly not immune. Animals that have been bitten will show intense pain at the site of the bite. Cats typically salivate excessively and become stressed, restless and can become out of breath. Often, affected animals will also show muscular weakness and paralysis.
As with snake bites and ticks, it’s important to take your pet to your local vet as quickly as possible for treatment.
"Summer is a very busy time for us," said Dr Awad. "These emergencies can be distressing and, at times, fatal. Prevention is better than the cure. So we advise all pet owners to be particularly alert over the summer months." RSPCA NSW offers veterinary services at the following locations:
- Sydney Shelter – 201 Rookwood Road, Yagoona
- Care Centre – Civic Way, Rouse Hill Town Centre, Rouse Hill
- Broken Hill Shelter – South Road, Broken Hill
- Hunter Valley Shelter – 6-10 Burlington Place, Rutherford
- Newcastle – 75 Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill
For more information about RSPCA NSW’s veterinary services and veterinary office hours, please visit rspcansw.org.au/vet_services
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