Protect Dogs from Poisonous Animal Bites

The ASPCA offers tips to protect your dog from poisonous bites during outdoor adventures.

Posted: August 7, 2007, 5 a.m. EST

Plenty of outdoor activities abound during the summer months, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is offering tips to keep pets safe from poisonous animals during outdoor adventures such as camping and hiking.

Keep dogs on a leash. Allowing dogs to roam free outdoors increases their odds of coming in contact with a snake. Owners can take control with an animal on a leash if contact is made with a poisonous animal.

Don’t let dogs investigate rock piles, debris, or holes in the ground or in trees. These locations provide hiding spots for poisonous animals.

Avoid evening walks and hikes where poisonous animals are known to live. Several species of poisonous animals more active at night.

If it’s suspected a dog has been bitten by a poisonous animal, seek veterinary attention immediately and keep pets as relaxed and immobile as possible. Common signs reflecting a poisonous bite include generalized weakness, difficulty breathing, seizures, tremors, and an abnormal heart rate.