Nick Evans- Snake Rescuer I'm sorry but if any of your are still chaining your dogs up in 2020 please unlike my page right now. This whole incident was so easily avoidable.
This is irresponsible dog ownership and I have zero tolerance for it.
Do better. Spread awareness. If you see people who are still chaining up dogs TELL THEM not to. ... See more
Dog vs Cobra 💔
A topic I post about fairly often, and on Saturday, we had a horrible case to deal with.
A call came in from what I could hear was a very distressed lady, in an area near Chatsworth.
There was apparently a large Mozambique Spitting Cobra in their backyard, and the dog was going at it. I could hear the dog going ballistic, and told her the dog needed to be called away for its own safety (and the safety of the snake).
I called my friend Duncan Slabbert, who was closer at the time than I was. He sped off to help.
Unfortunately, in this case, the dog happened to be chained, so the dog couldn't be called or chased away.
The dog attacked the snake, and killed it, but in the process, it got spat at and bitten, twice.
Duncan arrived to find a dead, 1.4m Mozambique Spitting Cobra, in beautiful condition. The owner of the dog had already left to go to the vet, with the dog.
I met the owner and the small crossbreed dog at the vet.
I had never dealt with a dog bitten by a Mozambique Spitting Cobra. I've dealt with dozens upon dozens of dogs who have been spat at, but never one bitten. I think I've only personally recorded one or two cases of bites.
This snake is more than capable of biting, but the Spitting usually fends off dogs.
There was a disturbing amount of blood coming out of the dogs mouth. It was gruesome. I didn't know this was a symptom, until I checked with Johan Marais (of the @African Snakebite Institute). Despite conducting a snake identification and handling course, he took my call, and quickly explained there's haemotoxic venom in the MSC's venom. That's causing the bleeding.
There was also extensive bruising around the bite sites.
Johan said it would need at least 2 vials of antivenom ASAP, otherwise it probably won't make it.
Unfortunately, antivenom and accompanying treatment is very expensive. The dogs condition was deteriorating fast as well.
It was decided that euthanasia would be the kindest option.
The cobra's body was retrieved by Duncan and will be used for science.
What can be learnt from this?
- Please do not chain up your dogs.
- If your dog is attacking a snake, WITHOUT getting between them, please try screaming at them, spray them with a hose, throw water, anything. I know it's not always easy to do, but if you leave it to attack it will likely come off second best.
If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a snake, please rush it off to your nearest vet.
I tried to disable see if I could disable comments on this post, to avoid the inevitable angry comments. It seems it is not possible on a page's post. So please refrain from angry or nasty comments 🙏I understand some of you may not like what has happened.
Hope this lesson can help someone else's dog🙏
Please remember, I'm recording cases of dog vs venomous snakes in the Greater Durban Area, as unpleasant as they are. So if you hear of any please Whatsapp me details on 072 809 5806 (call if emergency assistance is needed) or email me at nickevanskzn@gmail.com. ... See more
