Surge In Pet’s Getting Snake Bites Over Holiday Weekend

CHATTANOOGA,TN, (WDEF)-Dr. Sallye Gregg, Regional Institute For Veterinary Emergencies & Referrals,"We have the copperheads, rattlesnakes, cotton mouths, they are going into all three environments we do see a lot of snakes anytime on a holiday"

Dr. Gregg has worked with animals for more than 30 years.

"Lot of people out hiking and the copperheads lying on the side of the trail and the dog sees it and of course goes to attack it and thinks its getting the owner  and lot of times its done for protection"

The state of the art animal hospital has CT scanners and caters to animals all year round from across the Tennessee Valley.

There are two hyperbaric pet chambers in East Tennessee which can help animals who are desperate in need of care, but doctors and veterinarians say there are other risks to pets beside snake bites"

"Attacked by a coyote or some other wild animal, but that’s really important to understand there are other things out that they can get into"

Dr. Crowe says yellow jackets also pose a major threat to our animals but snake bites can leave pets in cardiac arrest.

"If if it’s a timber rattler, they do carry an anti-venom that can be quiet deadly, of course you don’t know how much venom they already got."

Pet owners say they are grateful for veterinarians who work through holidays to keep their animals alive.

Chris Bolt, Concerned Pet Owner, "I live out in the country in a rural area, Chickamauga on a cattle farm, we have got poisonous snakes down there."

Vets say that pet owners should not drive recklessly and remain calm if their animal is bitten or harmed and say they do have antivenoms in stock.