Coco The Whippet Meets A Brown Snake … Three Times!

Did you know that when it comes to snake bites in dogs, the most common in Australia is a dog being bitten by a brown snake. The eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is one of the most venomous land snakes in the world. Which is why it’s so amazing that a pint-sized whippet called Coco survived not one, but THREE run-ins with this species.

Little Coco from Epsom in Victoria encountered brown snakes three times in one summer, and has lived to tell the tale. We spoke to her pet parent, Wendy Igoe, about this amazing pup.

Meet Coco

Coco lives with her whippet companion, Bentley, on an acreage with plenty of space for dogs to run and exercise. Wendy and her family got Bentley in May 2021 and she describes her as “a darling, gentle, chilled out soul.”

The family decided to get another whippet soon after: “Enter Coco in January 2022. Personality-wise she couldn’t be more different to Bentley! Coco is feisty, loves mischief and loves to jump fences!”

Wendy says that after much research she decided to insure both Bentley and Coco with PD Insurance.

Snake run-in #1

Wendy says they’ve lived on their acreage for a few years but have rarely seen a single snake. That all changed n November 2023, when a brown snake made its way onto the front entrance on their home on a Monday afternoon.

“Coco saw the snake well before I did,” says Wendy. “I watched in horror as she grabbed the snake, shook it, ran with it, shook it again, ran some more and finally dropped her ‘prize’.”

Wendy raced Coco to the vet where they completed blood tests. Luckily, no venom was found. They monitored her and Coco was fine. Relief!

Snake bites dog! Coco’s second run-in

Saturday afternoon that very same week, Wendy stepped out the side door of the house into the fernery. 

“Bentley and Coco pushed past me to go out the door – and that’s when I saw the snake that had been sunning itself on the pavers. Of course, it was too late and the dogs would not back off.”

The snake reared up and struck Coco.

“She then grabbed it in her mouth and took off across the yard with the 1-metre snake writhing and my husband and I in hot pursuit.”

The snake had another go at striking her and Coco finally dropped it.  It slithered under some bushes and escaped its ordeal.

“Coco came straight over to us and was very subdued,” says Wendy. 

She immediately called their local emergency vet and took Coco in – they arrived there within 45 minutes of the bite. 

“The vet clinic were amazing – they were ready for us when we arrived and immediately started fluids and did blood tests.”

They confirmed that there was venom in Coco’s bloodstream and administered anti-venom. They kept her at the vet clinic for two days, and she was then allowed to go home to rest and recover.

Snake bites dog! Coco’s third run-in

A month later, on Christmas eve, Coco would have her third encounter – this time with a juvenile brown snake.

“This time Coco was further out in our yard.  We were cleaning up and packing for our Christmas/New Year break,” says Wendy. “My husband heard barking and knew from the tone that the dogs were chasing prey. He rounded the corner of an outbuilding to see Coco with a juvenile brown snake in her mouth.”

After their previous experience, Wendy bundled Coco straight into the car and called the vet clinic to let them know they were on their way.  Coco tested positive once again for venom.

“In my mind I said ‘“’rinse and repeat’ and I left her in the very capable hands of the team at the clinic for Christmas.”

Coco stayed at the vet hospital until late on Boxing Day, then came home to recover.  Wendy says this encounter was hard, as she had to leave detailed instructions on Coco’s care with their family who would be staying to care for the dogs while they went away on vacation.

Quick action saves the day

When it comes to snake bites, the location and depth of the bite influences how much venom is released. Coco was very lucky that on both occasions the snake bite didn’t go deep enough for a fatal dose of venom to enter her body. And on all three occasions Wendy took quick action and there were capable vets to help Coco quickly.

“We are so grateful to the team at our local emergency vet – without them we would not have our feisty Coco here with us,” says Wendy.

Not only that, but Wendy was able to quickly and easily claim for Coco’s vet bills through PD. She says that insurance is something you can’t afford not to have in a situation like this:

“Our experience with PD Insurance has been amazing – the kindness and compassion of the staff, together with the speedy processing time of our claims has made a traumatic and financially challenging time so much easier for us. I would not be without our pet insurance!”

Coco the dog after being bitten by brown snakes

The family have now set up a containment fence – a snake-free zone – for their dogs to play safely in while they’re not able to provide complete supervision. 

“Coco being the active girl she is, decided she was not having any of that and found a place she could climb some plants to get out of the containment area and back out into the bigger part of the yard,” says Wendy. “So we trimmed all the plants and made the fence higher – she looked me in the eye and then scaled the full height of the fence!”

Wendy says they built the fence even higher – this time 2 metres high … and Coco managed to get over that, too.

“Now that the cooler weather is starting to come in, and with some training and more work on the fencing we have been able to keep Coco in the area where she’s safe – this summer has been exhausting!”

PD is very glad to hear that Coco is still her lively self!

Dogs and snake bites 101

It’s estimated that around 6,200 pets get bitten by snakes in Australia each year. That’s a big number! Dogs and cats are curious creatures with predatory traits, and they often get bitten while they’re investigating or trying to catch a snake.

Dogs are more prone to being bitten on their heads and necks due to sniffing at their prey when they investigate. Cats are more prone to getting bitten on their legs. Luckily, the survival rate for pets who’re treated promptly is around 80%.

Wendy advises pet parents who live in areas with snakes to clear low-growing vegetation and any rubbish around your home: “Be vigilant and always aware of where your pets are and if they’re barking, please always go and investigate the reason why!”

What to do during a snake bite incident

If you see your dog bitten by a brown snake (or any snake), or they’ve had a run-in with a snake and it’s not clear whether they’ve been bitten or not, here’s what to do:

1. Stay calm. Try to to avoid escalating the situation. Carefully move them away from the area to prevent further bites or encounters with the snake.
2. Seek vet care immediately. Time is critical in treating snake bites in dogs. Contact your vet or an emergency vet clinic immediately for guidance and to arrange to bring them in.
3. Keep your dog as calm and restrained as possible. Restrict their movement to prevent the venom from spreading more quickly through their body.
4. Identify the snake. If it’s safe to do so, try to identify the snake from a distance. This info can help your vet in determining the appropriate treatment.
5. Do NOT apply tourniquets or ice. These measures can restrict blood flow and worsen tissue damage.
6. Do NOT try to suck out venom. Contrary to popular belief, attempting to suck out venom from the bite wound is not recommended and can cause more harm than good.
7. Follow vet recommendations: Once you arrive at the vet clinic, follow their instructions closely. Treatment may include administering anti-venom, pain management, intravenous fluids, and other supportive care measures.
8. Monitor your dog. After treatment, carefully check that your dog’s symptoms aren’t worsening. Contact your vet immediately if they’re having difficulty breathing, are weak, or collapse.

Read here for more on snake bites in pets.

Insurance for your dog’s snake bite … and more

Your dog being bitten by a brown snake can happen when you least expect it. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared for when accidents happen.

Vet treatments for something like a snake bite can be very expensive. Coco’s insurance claim, for instance, came to $2,487. The last thing you want to do is worry about your finances when you’re worrying about your pup’s life.

PD Insurance is an award-winning brand that offers three tiers of cover, all of which can be taken out online. So whether it’s snake bites, a cat fight, or a tummy bug, we’ve a policy to suit your needs.

Why not get a quote today?