Summer is here – yay! The warmer weather and blossoming flowers are here. But it’s not just the birds and flowers that have come back – snakes are also waking up from their long winter’s nap and a little more active. Even inner-Melbourne suburbs like Burwood, Camberwell, Ashwood and Glen Waverley can be subject to snakes. Especially in those long grassy park areas. Whilst we know to give snakes a wide berth, dogs can often be intrigued by these odd, slithering creatures and even consider them to be fun playmates. At our Melbourne doggie daycare, we do everything possible to make sure your pups are safe – including giving you tips for when you’re back at home.
5 Simple Ways To Protect Your Dog From Snakes
If you’re dog gets bitten, make sure you take them for treatment with your vet immediately. Otherwise, here’s some simple ways to make sure your dog is safe from snakes during these warmer months.
1. Keep Your Dog On A Leash
Snakes are cold-blooded animals and like to stay in cool areas. This could be long grass, places near water, rock piles or just about anywhere with a good amount of shade. If you suspect there are snakes close by, keep your dog on a short leash so they can’t go nosing around in shadowy areas.
If you think there might be snakes in your yard, it’s also a good idea to keep your dog on a leash at home or in a pup pen. Slithering creatures look like fun animals to play with and are sure to pique your pup’s curiosity. If the snake feels threatened or startled, it’s likely to bite.
2. Stick To The Trails
If you go out walking or hiking in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, it’s important you keep to the trails and don’t let your dog go roaming off. If a snake sees you and your dog coming, it’s likely to hide or slither away. Unfortunately, they’re not always as considerate if they’re rudely awoken by a sniffing dog.
3. Snake-Proof Your Yard
A great way to protect your dog is to make your yard as safe as possible. The eastern suburbs of Melbourne are known for their beautiful leafy trees. Remove any piles of leaves or logs as these are ideal snake-hiding places. You should also keep your bushes and plants well pruned to limit other hiding areas.
Snakes love to hide in grass because it offers shelter from predators and because it’s cool and dark. Regularly cut your lawn so it’s not as attractive to passing snakes. It’s also much easier to see any snakes slithering across short grass.
4. Train Your Pup
One of the best ways to ensure your dog doesn’t get bitten by a venomous (or non-venomous) snake is to teach them to return to you when they see one or when you call. Encourage this behaviour with positive reinforcement and treats – they may even learn to alert you if they see something slithering in the grass!
5. It’s Not All About Snakes
Snakes are attracted to places where their food is. Not only should you snake-proof your yard, but it’s also important to prevent rodents from living there. Piles of wood, compost bins and sheds can make great nesting spots for mice and rats, which will eventually attract snakes too.
What Should You Do If Your Dog is Bitten By A Snake?
As mentioned, if your pet has been bitten by a snake, it’s crucial you get them treated as soon as possible. Try to keep calm and don’t let your dog move too much as this could make the poison spread or the bite worse.
If your dog has been bitten by a venomous snake, it’ll need an antivenom specific to the snake that bit it. If you can, take a quick picture of the snake if it’s still around (whilst staying safe). It’s also worth familiarizing yourself with the snakes in your local area so you can help your vet identify them quickly.
If you’re sure your dog wasn’t bitten by a poisonous snake, you should still take them to the vet. Snake bites can be very painful and can easily get infected. Don’t try to do any first aid as this may waste time, just get your pup to the veterinarian as quickly as possible!
Keep Your Dog Safe From Snakes With Melbourne Doggie Daycare
At The Dog Dazzlers, the safety of all our furry clients is really important to us. That includes protecting your dogs from snakes. If you’re concerned about your dog being exposed to snakes through the day when you’re not home, why not bring them into our Melbourne premium daycare facilities.
Located in Burwood, Victoria, we offer secured play areas for your dogs to socialise in. We also have some walking locations that are safe for dogs to be off-lead etc.
And, if you are worried about your dog being bitten by a snake when they’re at home, feel free to ask any of our professionals at our Melbourne dog daycare. We can offer some great tips on how to keep your pup safe!
If you’re new to your area, or this is the first Spring and Summer months you’re spending at your place and you don’t have a local vet yet – you’ll be able to find one through the Australian Veterinary Association.