A family has a warning for other dog owners after their pet spent six nights in hospital following an eastern brown snake bite.
Sunshine Coast resident Keely O’Flanagan said her seven-year-old American staffy, Rosco Travers, was found near a dead snake in their backyard in Wurtulla.
“Despite what had happened, Rosco seemed completely himself,” Ms O’Flanagan said.
“He was excited to see my partner after he got home from work and was rushing to get inside, with nothing obviously out of the ordinary.
“At the time, we had no idea Rosco had been bitten because he wasn’t showing any obvious symptoms.”
The only unusual sign her partner Callum noticed was a slight nosebleed.
Ms O’Flanagan said her partner did not know what species of snake he had found, but someone who could identify snakes recognised it as an eastern brown and urged him to take Rosco to Kawana QVS.
“Callum didn’t hesitate and rushed him straight to emergency care,” she said.
“We’re so grateful he acted quickly, because Rosco appeared perfectly fine despite what was happening inside his body.”
Information published by Snake Rescue Sunny Coast describes the eastern brown snake, also known as the common brown snake, as a highly dangerous species frequently encountered on the Sunshine Coast and across Australia.
Animal Emergency Service also identifies eastern brown snakes as the most common snake responsible for dog bites in Australia, with envenomation capable of causing weakness, tremors, vomiting, paralysis and abnormal bleeding.
Rosco received two doses of antivenom on his first day of treatment before being moved into intensive care, where he required a plasma transfusion to help his blood clot.
“It’s heartbreaking seeing our normally energetic boy go through something like this, but we’re incredibly grateful he’s in the hands of the veterinary team at Kawana QVS,” she said.
The family had previously encountered a baby eastern brown snake in the area several years ago, but Ms O’Flanagan said the latest snake was much larger.
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Rosco was eventually allowed home on October 19 after spending six nights in hospital.
“He is doing alright, but he is still very weak and fatigued and has a bit of a journey ahead of him with his recovery,” she said.
“We are just so relieved to have our boy back home with us.
“It’s been an incredibly stressful and emotional week, so having him home is the best feeling.
“He’s going to need lots of rest, love and time to get his strength back, but he’s a little fighter.”
Ms O’Flanagan has urged other dog owners not to rely on obvious symptoms if they suspect their pet has encountered a snake.
“Please don’t wait for symptoms to appear,” she said.
“If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a snake, or you find a snake near your pet and think there may have been an encounter, seek emergency veterinary care immediately, even if your dog seems completely normal.
“Rosco wasn’t showing any obvious signs that something was seriously wrong, apart from a slight nosebleed, and we could never have imagined how serious the situation would become.”
