Snake Bites in Dogs and Cats: What to Do in Tennessee

Tennessee is home to four venomous snake species, and Collierville’s mix of wooded green space, creeks, and suburban yards means pets can encounter them more often than owners expect—especially in spring and fall when snakes are most active.

Venomous Snakes in Our Area

Tennessee’s four venomous species are the copperhead, cottonmouth (water moccasin), timber rattlesnake, and pygmy rattlesnake. In our part of West Tennessee, the two most likely encounters are:

• Copperheads, the most common venomous snake statewide and responsible for the majority of snake bites in Tennessee. Their venom is serious but generally less potent than a rattlesnake’s, and bites are rarely fatal in dogs or cats with prompt treatment.
• Cottonmouths (water moccasins), found near creeks, ponds, and wetland areas in West Tennessee. They’re more aggressive when cornered than copperheads and their venom can cause more significant tissue damage.

Timber rattlesnakes are found in Tennessee but are more associated with rocky, wooded terrain further east and are less commonly encountered in the immediate Collierville area.

Signs of a Venomous Snake Bite

• Puncture wounds, sometimes hard to spot through fur—look for sudden localized swelling even if you didn’t see a bite happen
• Rapid swelling and bruising around the bite site
• Bleeding that doesn’t clot normally
• Intense pain—your pet may cry out, pant heavily, or avoid using the affected limb
• Drooling, vomiting, or weakness
• Lethargy or collapse in more severe cases

Cats can show more subtle signs than dogs—sudden lameness, hiding, or unexplained swelling on the face or a limb after time outdoors is worth treating as a possible bite.

What to Do If Your Pet Is Bitten

1. Stay calm and keep your pet as still as possible. Movement speeds up how fast venom spreads through the bloodstream—carry your pet to the car rather than letting them walk if you can.
2. Do not apply a tourniquet. This is outdated advice that can cause more harm than good.
3. Do not try to suck out venom or cut the bite site. This doesn’t work and risks infection and additional tissue damage.
4. Do not apply ice directly.
5. Do not try to catch, identify, or kill the snake. If you can safely note its color and size from a distance, that information can help, but it’s not worth the risk of a second bite.
6. Get to a vet immediately—call ahead if possible so the team can prepare.

What Treatment Looks Like

Treatment depends on severity and may include:

• Pain management, since snake bites are genuinely painful
• IV fluids to support blood pressure and organ function
• Monitoring for clotting problems and tissue damage at the bite site
• Antivenin, when indicated based on the type of snake, severity of the bite, and how the pet is responding
• Hospitalization for monitoring, since some complications develop over 24–48 hours rather than immediately

Reducing Your Pet’s Risk

• Keep dogs on a leash on trails and in wooded or brushy areas, especially during spring and fall
• Avoid letting pets explore tall grass, wood piles, brush piles, and rock piles where snakes like to hide
• Keep your yard tidy—clear brush and debris piles where snakes can shelter
• Be especially cautious near creeks and water features, where cottonmouths are more likely to be present
• Ask us whether a canine rattlesnake vaccine makes sense for your dog’s specific risk level and lifestyle—it’s not a substitute for prompt treatment after a bite, but it may be worth discussing if your dog spends a lot of time in high-risk areas

Even a “Maybe” Bite Deserves a Vet Visit

If you’re not sure whether your pet was actually bitten, or whether the snake was venomous, it’s always safer to be seen than to wait and watch for symptoms to worsen.

Suspect a snake bite? Call Poplar View Pet Hospital immediately at 901-457-7315. If it’s after hours, head straight to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.