• Approximately 76% of snake envenomations of domestic pets in continental Australia each year are bites from Eastern Brown (Pseudonaja textilis) snakes.
• It should be noted that a number of other venomous snakes in Australia are brown, including Tiger snakes (Notechis spp), Copperheads (Austrelaps spp) and Taipans (Oxyuranus scutellatus). These species can be mistaken for Brown snakes. The King Brown snake is in the Pseudechis (Black Snake) genus. Unless the snake is identified by an expert, a polyvalent Brown/Tiger snake antivenom should be used if both snakes occur in the area.
• All terrestrial snakes in Australia, of veterinary importance, belong to the Elapid family.
• Cause: snakebite by Pseudonaja.
• Signs: vomiting, diarrhea shaking, hypersalivation, panting, ataxia, collapse, paralysis, mydriasis, urinary and/or fecal incontinence, hematuria, coagulopathy with bleeding from orifices, shallow breathing, death from respiratory failure.
• Diagnosis: clinical signs, venom identification by kit. The site of the bite may be visible.
• Treatment: specific antivenom and intensive supportive therapy.
• Prognosis: prognosis varies with venom dose and with the time elapsed between envenomation and treatment.

ℹ️Print off the factsheet on Brown snake bite to give to your clients.

• The owner may have witnessed the bite.
• The site of the bite may not be apparent.
• After receiving a potentially lethal dose of venom, cats may collapse and then appear to enjoy a transient recovery.
• Clinical signs of Brown snake envenomation may be divided into the preparalytic and paralytic phases; see Clinical signs below.

• Brown snakes are found throughout continental Australia, but not in Tasmania .
• In temperate parts of Australia, most snakebites occur in the warmer months, but snakes are active all year in northern areas.
• Brown snakes are not confined to rural areas but can be found in suburban areas.

• Envenomation may occur in domestic pets of any age.

• Treatment of Brown snake envenomation can be expensive, particularly if mechanical ventilation is required and prolonged hospitalization needed Anesthetic ventilators: overview.
• Treatment will include antivenom, other pharmaceuticals, and intensive care and monitoring. It may include mechanical ventilation, blood transfusion Blood transfusion, and treatment for internal hemorrhages .

• The client should not attempt to kill the snake to show it to the veterinarian.

⚠️The client who calls ahead to say that they are bringing in a case of Brown snake envenomation should be warned to make no attempt to suck the venom out of the bite site. Should they have abrasions in their mouth, such an attempt could be fatal.

• The principal neurotoxin in Brown snake venom is textilotoxin.
• Textilotoxin binds to the presynaptic region or neuromuscular junctions causing lower motor neuron paralysis.
• The venom also contains a procoagulant which causes widespread thrombosis; however the clinical presentation is coagulopathy due to prothrombin depletion.

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Grose V, Padula A M & Leister E M (2021) Successful treatment of a potentially fatal eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) envenomation in a dog with tiger-brown snake antivenom with serial quantification of venom antigen and antivenom concentrations in serum and urine. Aust Vet J 99 (5), 139-145 PubMed.
• Valenza L, Allavena R, Haworth M et al (2021). Diagnosis and treatment of snake envenomation in dogs in Queensland, Australia. Vet Sci. 8 (2), 14 PubMed.
• Zdenek, CN, Llinas J, Dobson J et al (2020) Pets in peril: the relative susceptibility of cats and dogs to procoagulant snake venoms. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 236, 108769 PubMed.
• Leong OS, Padula AM, Leister E (2018) Severe acute pulmonary haemorrhage and haemoptysis in ten dogs following eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) envenomation: Clinical signs, treatment and outcomes. Toxicon 150, 188-194 PubMed.
• Padula A M & Leister E (2017) Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) envenomation in dogs and cats: Clinical signs, coagulation changes, brown snake venom antigen levels and treatment with a novel caprylic acid fractionated bivalent whole IgG equine antivenom. Toxicon 138, 89-97 PubMed.
• Indrawirawan Y H, Sheridan G I & McAlees T J (2014) Clinical features of Mainland tiger and Eastern brown snake envenomation in dogs and cats in Melbourne. Aust Vet Pract 44 (4), 704-712 Research Gate.
• Shea G M (1999) The distribution and identification of dangerously venomous Australian terrestrial snakes. Aust Vet J 77 (12) PubMed.

Other sources of information

• White J (online)CSL Antivenom Handbook, University of Adelaide, Australia. Website: www.toxinology.com.