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
© 2000-2022 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.