Dogs – Having a pet dog at home is without a doubt one of the most effective ways to frighten off those slithering serpents. Dogs are great because of the noise and movement of them constantly moving around the yard.
However, dogs and cats are usually curious by nature. A lot also have natural hunting instincts that will cause them to go after a snake rather than avoid it. That is why it is best to take precautions to stop you having to pull your pet away from a snake in the first place.
It's likely that most snakes won't choose to go near dogs. They're bigger, noisier, and more of a hassle than a good snack. Simply by having your dog around, you will likely help to keep snakes away.
The newest evidence comes from a paper in Applied Animal Behavior Science, which found that dogs can smell the difference between a venomous rattlesnake and a harmless boa, but they find the smell intriguing rather than terrifying.
Foxes and raccoons are common predators of snakes. Guinea hens, turkeys, pigs, and cats will also help keep snakes away. If foxes are indigenous to your area, fox urine is a very good natural repellent for snakes when spread around your property.
Snakes will often bite your pet in the face, neck, or legs when the dog tries to catch the snake.
Snake-Proof Your Yard
Remove any piles of leaves or logs as these are ideal snake-hiding places. You should also keep your bushes and plants well pruned to limit other hiding areas. Snakes love to hide in grass because it offers shelter from predators and because it's cool and dark.
Introduce snake
Place a toy snake on the ground. Put your dog on a leash and when he goes to investigate, say "leave it". If your dog leaves the snake, reward with treat. If he approaches, say "no", and walk with your dog on the leash in the opposite direction.
Some snakes such as eastern brown snakes are active during the day, others prefer to hunt in the evening, while some species are more active at night during the hotter months.
Walk your dog on a lead or ensure your dog won't leave your side when going for a walk. There is less chance your dog will be bitten if your dog is beside you the whole time. Do not let your dog dog explore holes or dig under rocks or logs and keep away from high grass and rocks where snakes like to rest.
The female 'Bully Kutta' (Indian mastiff) dog, which is only less than two years old, took on a 3-foot-long Russell's viper, which had creeped onto the veranda. Despite receiving multiple bites from the snake on its face and thigh, the canine managed to overpower and kill it.
Snakes enter a building because they're lured in by dark, damp, cool areas or in search of small animals, like rats and mice, for food. Snakes can be discouraged from entering a home in several ways. Keeping the vegetation around the house cut short can make the home less attractive to small animals and snakes.
A: No, most breeds cannot smell reptiles. Only the breeds with the most developed sense of smell—retrievers, Blood hounds, Bassets, Beagles — are able to detect snakes merely by smell.
Natural repellents including sulfur, clove and cinnamon oil, and vinegar may help repel snakes. Pour these substances around the perimeter of your property, any place you have noticed snake activity.
If you find a snake in your ya... rd that has been injured or killed by your cat or dog its best to take your pet straight to the vet just in case. If you see a snake in your yard please do whatever it takes to keep your pets away from the snake and call a snake catcher.
Ammonia is a common snake repellent. Snakes hate the smell of ammonia and won't come near it. Soak rags in ammonia and place them in unsealed plastic bags. Leave the bags where you usually see snakes to keep them away.
Garlic and onions not only work when planted in your yard, but they also work as a natural snake repellent product as they both contain sulfonic acid which is known to repel snakes. Chop up both garlic and onions and mix them with rock salt. Sprinkle the mixture around your yard to repel snakes.
This study, which surveyed veterinary clinics in Queensland, reported an average of 12 cases of snake envenomation in dogs each year per clinic.
In Australia there may be 60,000 cases of snake bites per year of dogs and cats. Up to 15,000 deaths of pets may occur.
Incidence of Snake Bites in Pets
Approximately 150,000 dogs and cats in the United States are bitten by venomous snakes each year.
"Including the brown, tiger, black, taipan, death adder and certain sea snakes and all these snakes are found in Queensland," Mr Farry said. "Most Australian snake bites are associated with minimal local pain and bite marks can be easily missed."