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Posts: 1
From:Sydney NSW Australia
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-11-2004 06:44 PM         

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I'd be grateful if anyone with experience with non-specific symptoms in cats and possible snake bite can assist me. We lost our second Siamese in 2 yrs to an unknown cause on Xmas Eve. Vet couldn't find any puncture marks & didnt treat for snake bite, but now another vet at the practice says it was probably snake bite, given we live on acres and it's a hot summer. He was lethargic and could hardly move so they put him on a drip, but 6 hrs later he died. They did start giving him antibiotics for a blood infection 3hrs before he died. We're now too scared to get another for fear of losing them to snake bite. We have red belly blacksnakes around us. Any advice would be great!

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 01-11-2004 09:05 PM         

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I don't have any advice to offer but I just wanted to say that I'm very sorry for your loss.

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Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-11-2004 10:57 PM         

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Hello. I'm sorry for your loss. That's never easy. As for your question the only way you would have known for certain the cause of your cats death, was to have an autopsy performed on your kitty shortly after his death. Vets often do this so that people can have some kind of closure or insight into the death.

As for snake bites, a vet would have to be looking very well at the entire body to be able to locate two small puncture wounds. Imagine how hard it must be to locate these two dots on a furry cat.

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-11-2004 11:24 PM         

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What about any plants the cat could have eaten? A lot of plants are poisonous to cats and can kill them.

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Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-12-2004 06:32 AM         

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ok, the vet should have been able to locate a swelling point if it was snake bite.

With snake bites, symptoms varry. We have copperheads, rattle snakes, water mocasins, cotton mouths, king snakes, grass snakes, rat snakes, coach whips, and many others.

With all snake bites venimous or not, there will be a lump or swelling point at the bite location. This swelling if its a venemous snake, will continue to swell as it spreads.

Most cats and dogs after getting bitten (by venemous) will become lathargic, drool at the mouth, have staggared and unballanced movement, their equalibrium becomes way off...
With rattlesnakes. they become paralized, disoriented, and die very quickly.

Sounds to me like your cat could have become poisoned by some other means...perhaps house hold cleaners??? Ant poison?? stuff like that. I'll get my refrence page and post it for everyone to read...

I'm sorry for your loss. We have lots of snake bite victims around here as well.

YOu can protect your place by using Cedar wood chips in your yard, flowerbeds, and they also have a snake repellent that you spray your fence lines with. Snakes won't cross the barrier.

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Posts: 145
From:Toronto, Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-12-2004 02:40 PM         

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I am really sorry for your lose.

I am assuming that you cats have been outdoor cats. You should try having an indoor cat. This will greatly decrease the chance of your cat being bitten by a snake.

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