Quick trip saves snake-bitten dog

MEG Coates feared the worst when she witnessed the terrifying sight of her beloved pet dog James being bitten by a tiger snake on Tuesday night.

The Oakdowns resident was sitting on the couch with husband Tobi when she heard the Staffordshire-mastiff cross barking.

“I went to the window to have a look, and he had a tiger snake in his mouth ,’’ she said.

“So I told him to drop it, which he did, and it bit him on theface.”

Despite not immediately showing symptoms, James was rushed to the after-hours veterinary clinic in Derwent Park and a blood test soon confirmed he had been poisoned.

One vial of an antidote to

snake venom was given to the dog and after some time in intensive care he was allowed to go home on Wednesday night, much to the relief of his owners.

Mrs Coates described James’ survival as a miracle.

“If we had waited (to take him to the vet), he would have died,’’ she said. She said James had become a special part of their family after they adopted him 18 months ago.

“He has as ad story. Before he came to us he was a long-term resident of the dogs’ home and he had something like eight homes before that in his short life,’’ Mrs Coates said.

“He was found on the streets in the end. He’ s such a sweet dog and deserves to live and I just couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.”

Mrs Coates, 31, a veterinary nurse, said the family’s experience showed how important it was to rush pets to the vet if a snake bite was suspected.

“Time is critical, so even if your dog isn’t showing any symptoms, you need to get it to a vet straight away ,’’ she said.

“Don’t waste any time trying to do first aid — what it needs is antivenene.”

The family has been living at the Oakdowns address for six years and their home backs on to bushland, but it was the first time they had encountered a snake.

Despite the scary incident, the couple said they were fans of snake sand not fearful of them.

“I want to stress for people to not harm snakes.

“It’s not their fault, they’re just looking for water or food,’’ Mrs Coates said.

Mr Coates, 32, put the tiger snake in a container and phoned a reptile rescue service to collect it and it is currently being rehabilitated.

The family even named the snake—calling it Oak downs— and say they intend to visit it.