Of course venomous California snakes are very dangerous to your pets, there are no exact figures available that can tell us exactly how many pets get bitten in the United States each year by venomous snakes. The one thing that most vets agree on is that the fatality rate amongst pets bitten by snakes is around 20%, that is dramatically higher than the number of fatalities in human beings, in 2015 over 3700 humans were bitten by venomous snakes but only 12 died. If you see your pet get bitten by a snake you know is venomous then you should calm the animal, if possible immobilize the bright spot and take the animal immediately to a veterinary.



It must be said that most people don't even realize their dog or cat has been bitten until they find it deceased, but there are some symptoms that everyone should know and recognize which would make you have a good look over your pet for a bite. These symptoms are:
1. local or general swelling around the bite
2. bleeding
3. your pet is in intense pain
4. shortness of breath
5. general weakness
6. renal failure
7. low blood pressure
8. dead tissue around the wound

The last two of course other ones that your vet will probably notice easier than you will. The only parts of the United States where you are unlikely to get a venomous California snake bite our Hawaii and Alaska mostly because they have very few venomous snakes. The most likely time for your pet to be bitten are spring and summer when both the reptiles and your pets are more active. It must be said that even if your pet is bitten its odds of survival are pretty good (80%) with survival of course being a full recovery. Rarely will a snake waste valuable venom on a large dog or cat that it cannot eat so more than likely there will be no venom injected, the snake will hope the shock of the bite will deter the animal.

If however the Monterey snake strikes a second time then it will most likely inject venom because it figures its first deterrent strike did not work so now it will try and kill the dog or cat, you have to remember the snake thinks it is under attack by a large predator, which it probably actually is as a lot more snakes are killed by dogs and cats than dogs and cats are killed by snakes.

Visit our Monterey wildlife trapping home page to learn more about us.