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The Difference Between an Animal Bite & a Snake Bite

Of course, a snake bite is an animal bite. A severe enough bite from any animal, including a human, could be dangerous and be cause to seek medical attention. The difference is that a bite from a venomous snake is always a medical emergency. Most snakes aren't venomous, but if one is bitten by any snake one should get to an emergency room as soon as possible. If the snake was venomous the proper antivenom administered in time could be the difference between life and death.

  1. What the Bite Looks Like

    • The bite of a poisonous snake will at first look like a rounded V made of pinpricks, with two fang marks at the top. Later pain and swelling will set in. The bite of a nonvenomous snake will look like a rounded V without the top fang marks. Depending on its severity the bite of an animal will result in anything from teeth marks and bruising to a wound that's deep or gaping and bleeding.

    Symptoms

    • An animal bite may cause pain and bleeding right away. A minor animal or human bite will only cause trouble if it gets infected. The bites of cottonmouths, copperheads and rattlesnakes bring pain and symptoms immediately, but with the coral snake, the symptoms don't begin right away and the bite may be painless.

    Treatment

    • Even if the snake is believed to be nonvenomous it is still vital to get to an emergency room. In the meantime the victim should be kept calm and still, and the wound should be kept below the heart level. Cold compresses shouldn't be put on the bite, the bite should not be cut into nor should anyone attempt to suck the venom out. The victim shouldn't be given any medications or anything by mouth unless under a doctor's orders. With an animal bite a doctor should be called. The wound should be washed gently with soap and water, and pressure applied with a clean towel to stop bleeding. A sterile bandage should be applied to the wound and the injury should be elevated above the level of the heart -- this is in contrast to a snakebite. After the wound is seen to by a doctor, an antibiotic ointment should be applied to the wound every other day till it heals.

    How to Avoid All Bites

    • To avoid animal bites it's best not to have contact with animals one doesn't know, to not handle snakes at all and wear long boots and long pants while walking in places where they might be. Vaccinate cats, dogs and ferrets against rabies, and humans should get tetanus boosters if they haven't had one recently. A dog should be spayed or neutered to make it less aggressive. Keep hands and other vulnerable parts away from the mouth of a human being who's having a convulsion.

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