T-Rex terrier gives snake a lickin'

The two clashed in the Helensburgh Jack Russell's backyard, with the snake leaving a fang embedded in the dog's cheek.

"He's a bit of a hero in our house because we have an eight-year-old son who could have been bitten," owner Robert Earl said.

But T-Rex did not get off lightly.

The bite was one of two that Austinmer Veterinary Hospital has dealt with in the past month and in both cases the dogs almost died.

Mr Earl said it was the first time he had seen a tiger snake at Helensburgh.

"I think it was going for the bird cage and T-Rex saw it and gave it a shake," he said.

"He is a fearless little thing who will stand up to anything that invades his territory.

"I saw what was going on and killed the snake but it was not until the next morning we realised that T-Rex had been bitten."

The dog was vomiting and paralysed and needed urgent veterinary attention.

"I thought we would lose him because after the initial treatment he started to deteriorate and had to be rushed back for more treatment," Mr Earl said.

Wires snake handler Tanya Fisher said reports of tiger snakes have increased since the rain started earlier this year.

"They tend to hang around the creeks and get washed down the creek and into suburbia after heavy rains," she said.

"In the past two months I've rescued four tiger snakes in suburbia and relocated them back into the bush."

She said they were highly venomous. They are easy to identify with their brown stripes.

"By nature they are quite timid and will normally try to get away and will not bite unless provoked," Ms Fisher said.

Vet Jarrod Coleman said tiger snake venom paralyses the victim and while they may recover temporarily, they quickly deteriorate without treatment.

"It was touch and go with T-Rex because the treatment was delayed overnight," Dr Coleman said.

Dogs which have immediate treatment have a better chance of survival.