Katanning vet Dr Kate Clayton tells pet owners to be vigilant after treating several animals for snakebites

Katanning vet Kate Clayton has warned cat and dog owners to be vigilant after treating five animals with anti-venom medication for snakebites. She said as the weather warmed up, snakes were coming out of hibernation and, being at their most hungry, were also at their most venomous. “It’s snake season and we have had multiple dogs and cats which have been bitten,” she said. Dr Clayton, who runs practices in Katanning and Kojonup, said there was no first aid pet owners could attempt if they thought a pet had been bitten, and they should get to a vet as quickly as possible. “Outcomes can depend on whether it was a dry bite — where no venom was released — and whether the snake has fed recently,” she said. “If they have not eaten, the venom is more potent. “We have treated five pets so far in our practices. “The owner of one cat actually had no idea it had been bitten until it vomited up the snake’s head.” She said the best way to keep cats safe from snakes was to invest in a “catio”, an outdoor caged area which prevented them from roaming. “Many local governments are offering rebates as the cat laws are being updated,” she said. “But the safest place for your cat is indoors.” One devastated resident recently lost a beloved ragdoll cat to a snakebite. Dr Clayton’s practices both have coagulation machines which can analyse a blood test and indicate whether an animal has been bitten. She said this was because venom interfered with blood clotting, and urged owners to see a vet as soon as they suspected a bite so anti-venom medication could be administered as soon as possible. “We can also use the coagulation machine to test and then re-test if necessary to provide pet owners with peace of mind,” she said.