04/20/2026
From a National Snake Bite Support group.
VERY important information!
Reposting the drug rant from Dr. Woliver regarding *veterinary* snakebite management
So I’m not convinced anyone ever reads the protocol sheet when it’s posted so I figured I’d make a post to elaborate on drugs that are not recommended or contraindicated (meaning should not be given under any circumstances) during a snake bite.
Some of the following drugs can cause severe damage or even death if given during snake bite. We have seen several cases recently where the injury or death of a patient was likely exacerbated by one or more of the drugs listed below.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
NSAIDs can lead to decreased blood flow to the kidneys worsening damage caused by hypotension, red blood cell destruction, or muscle damage. NSAIDs can also lead to ulceration of the stomach and intestines. Theoretically they can also worsen bleeding.
Some common examples:
Carprofen (rimadyl, novox)
Deramaxx
Meloxicam (metacam, mobic)
Aspirin
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
Aleve (naproxen)
Steroids
Steroids do not help with a snake envenomation, especially a bad one. Steroids work by altering gene expression to decrease inflammation. This takes hours to work. They give a false sense of security that something has been done, but do not actually help with anything significant, and they may actually delay wound healing.
Some common steroids include:
Prednisone
Dexamethasone
Hydrocortisone
Triamcinolone
STEROIDS SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN CONCURRENTLY WITH NSAIDs IN DOGS AND CATS. This will lead to stomach or intestinal perforation. It’s probably the biggest contraindication in veterinary medicine, and not just for snake bite patients. There are very very rare situations where this may need to be done but one needs to be stopped before giving the other. And your vet should have a detailed conversation with you about the risks of doing so.
Furosemide, aka lasix
Except under very particular circumstances, this medication should never be given to a snake bite patient. It will dehydrate your pet and will also lead to kidney damage. And it does nothing for a routine snake bite. Its main use is for congestive heart failure or in the rare case of fluid overload. It will not do anything to help with the swelling of a snake bite and is more likely to lead to the death of a pet.
Antibiotics
Giving antibiotics too prematurely selects for antibiotic resistance. Additionally, certain antibiotics can actually be harmful in snake bite cases. For example, the aminoglycoside class of antibiotics (gentamicin and amakacin are the most common) shouldn’t be given right off the bat as it can lead to an acute kidney injury. Typically this antibiotic should only be used when you have culture and sensitivity results saying it’s what you should use.
Infection following snake bites is incredibly rare. Prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics are not recommended. Antibiotics should only be prescribed if there is clinical evidence of or high likelihood of infection.
Antihistamines
These aren’t going to kill your pet, but they give a false sense of security that something is being done to treat the animal. In reality, the swelling from a snake bite is due to cellular damage and vasoactive substances, not from histamine release, which is why Benadryl, Zyrtec, or [insert antihistamine here] doesn’t work.
Human or herbal medications: Just please don’t give these. Many medications that are safe for humans can be harmful or deadly to pets.
Subcutaneous fluids
These stretch out the skin when they are given and cause little micro tears under the skin. In normal situations this isn’t a big deal, but in a coagulopathic snake bite where the blood isn’t clotting properly, this could could cause bleeding in a patient. IV fluids are always the preferred route.
Tylenol: Don’t give Tylenol without speaking to a vet first. It can be given in dogs for specific circumstances but should not give to cats as there isn’t really a safe dose for them.
Heparin: this is a blood thinner. Do not give heparin or any other blood thinner in the case of a snake bite.
If your pet is dealing with a snake bite and you aren’t sure if a medication that was prescribed falls into one of the above categories, you are always welcome to ask us!
This list may be added to or edited in the future.
