Non-Venomous Snakebite 

You have been bitten by a non-venomous snake. Non-venomous snakes don't have fangs and don't inject venom. Some non-venomous snakes have teeth or a sandpaper-like surface on their gums. This may cause a scratch mark or scrape on your skin. Rarely, a piece of the tooth may break off and remain in or under your skin. If this is the case, your provider may try to remove it. You may get a tetanus shot, depending on the injury and what vaccines you have had. You may be given preventive antibiotics . It depends on where the bite was, what type of bite it was, and how serious it was.

Home care

Follow these home care tips:

• Keep the bite area clean and dry, and watch for the warning signs listed below.

• No other special treatment is needed. Any pain or soreness you have should go away over the next 24 hours.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised.

When to seek medical advice

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:

• Redness around the wound

• Increasing swelling of the wound area

• Drainage from the wound

• Increasing pain in the wound or bitten extremity

• Bruising or abnormal bleeding

• Fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider