Protecting dogs and cats around Sydney homes
Finding a snake in the yard is worrying, particularly when your pets have access to the same space. Knowing how to prevent contact—and what to do if a bite is suspected—can make a critical difference.
Urban Reptile Removal helps households across Greater Sydney and the Central Coast manage snake encounters safely. We can assist with the snake, while a veterinarian assesses and treats your pet.
Suspect your pet has been bitten? Get veterinary help immediately.
Do not wait for symptoms, visible bite marks or the snake catcher to arrive.
Keep your pet quiet and minimise movement. Carry them to the car if practical and safe.
Contact a vet immediately and begin arranging transport. Call ahead so the clinic can prepare and confirm it can receive a suspected snakebite patient.
Do not chase, catch or kill the snake. Tell the vet what you saw, but do not delay treatment to identify or photograph it.
Tell the vet about every pet involved. If several animals approached the snake, more than one may need assessment.
Do not cut, suck or wash the suspected bite, or apply a tourniquet. Follow the vet’s instructions about any additional first aid.
An animal that collapses and then appears to recover may still be seriously affected. Apparent recovery is not a reason to wait.
There’s a snake near my pet. What should I do?
If you have seen a snake but there has been no apparent contact:
Call your pet away from a safe position. Avoid putting yourself between the animal and the snake.
Secure pets indoors or in another area the snake cannot access.
Keep people away and give the snake room.
If it needs removal, call Urban Reptile Removal on 0418 633 474.
Watch where the snake goes from a safe distance, if you can do so without delaying care for an animal.
If your dog or cat confronted the snake, or you cannot rule out contact, seek urgent veterinary advice—even if your pet currently looks normal.
Why dogs and cats get bitten
Dogs often investigate snakes, bark at them or attempt to grab them. Cats may stalk or strike at a snake as they would other prey. These encounters can provoke a defensive bite.
A dog that has killed a snake may also have been bitten during the encounter. Finding a dead snake does not mean your pet is safe.
Cats may encounter snakes while exploring away from their owners, so the first indication of a problem can be a change in the animal’s condition rather than a witnessed bite.
Preventing contact protects both your pet and the snake.
Possible signs of snakebite
Signs vary between animals and snake species. They can include:
Sudden weakness, wobbliness or collapse.
Vomiting.
Shaking or muscle twitching.
Excessive drooling.
Difficulty breathing.
Dilated pupils.
Paralysis.
Unusual bleeding or dark-coloured urine.
You may not see every sign, and symptoms can be delayed. Bite marks can be difficult to find beneath fur.
If snakebite is possible, contact a vet immediately. Do not use this list to decide that your pet is safe.
Reducing encounters around your home
You cannot guarantee that a snake will never enter your property, but you can reduce opportunities for pets to encounter one.
Manage the spaces your pets use
Keep lawns manageable and maintain clear visibility around pet exercise areas. Keep dogs away from dense garden beds, woodpiles and cluttered sheds where you cannot easily see what they are investigating.
Store timber and materials neatly, and avoid leaving piles of rubbish or unused equipment beside kennels and runs.
Manage food and rodents
Store pet food, poultry feed and birdseed securely. Clean up spilled feed and leftover food that may attract rodents.
Supervise outdoor activity
Watch dogs when they are outside, particularly on properties adjoining bushland or waterways. Investigate persistent barking or unusual fixation on one part of the yard from a safe distance.
Keep dogs on a lead around long grass, bush tracks and concealed spaces. Do not allow them to investigate holes or dig beneath rocks.
Provide secure spaces for cats
Keeping cats indoors or providing a well-maintained enclosed outdoor area reduces opportunities to encounter wildlife.
Have an emergency plan
Save the numbers for your regular vet and a suitable after-hours emergency hospital. Know where you would take your pet and how you would transport them.
Recall and “leave it” training can help you manage your dog, but training should accompany supervision and sensible precautions.
What happens at the vet?
The vet will assess your pet’s condition and decide what tests and treatment are needed. Assessment may include blood tests to investigate clotting, blood-cell changes and organ function, and venom testing where appropriate.
Treatment may include antivenom, intravenous fluids, pain relief and hospital monitoring. More seriously affected animals can require oxygen, ventilation or blood products.
Antivenom neutralises circulating venom, but it does not instantly reverse every effect of a bite. Some animals need ongoing treatment and monitoring.
Recovery and cost depend on the severity of the case and the treatment required. The veterinary team will discuss these with you.
Veterinary help in Sydney and the Hawkesbury
Contact the nearest available veterinary clinic or emergency hospital able to receive your pet. Call ahead where possible. These contacts are useful options, but the appropriate destination depends on your location and the clinic’s availability.
SASH North Ryde — emergency care 24 hours a day
SASH stands for Small Animal Specialist Hospital. Its North Ryde hospital provides emergency care around the clock. An appointment or referral is not required for an emergency.
Phone: (02) 9889 0289
Address: 1 Richardson Place, North Ryde NSW 2113
Visit SASH North Ryde
North Richmond Vet Hospital
North Richmond Vet Hospital treats emergency patients during opening hours and has published examples of treating snakebite patients.
Phone: (02) 4571 2042
Address: 61 Yobarnie Avenue, North Richmond NSW 2754
Its advertised after-hours service is for existing clients. Other owners needing immediate assistance are directed to a nearby 24-hour emergency hospital. Phone to confirm availability and arrangements.
North Richmond Vet emergency information
Local stories and further reading
Five dogs hospitalised after snake encounters
Two separate incidents in Mount Colah and Bensville brought home how quickly a backyard encounter can become an emergency involving several pets. Urban Reptile Removal and Sydney Snake Catcher were involved in responding to the incidents.
Dogs and snakes: understanding the encounter
Why dogs approach snakes, how defensive bites happen, and practical precautions for owners.
Read our Dogs and Snakes article
More encounters, rescues and advice
Explore news stories featuring our work and commentary on living safely alongside Australian reptiles.
Need a snake removed?
Keep pets and people away from the snake and call Urban Reptile Removal on 0418 633 474.
If a pet may have been bitten, veterinary care takes priority. Do not wait for our arrival before seeking treatment.