Cameron Hendricks is the senior veterinarian at Forster Veterinary Hospital.

“The majority of snake bites happen in summer, when people are out with dogs,” Dr Hendricks said.

“It's hot, so people are out with their dogs. It's also when snakes are most active.

“The weird thing is we are in the middle of September, and I've already had five cases.”

Last week, someone brought in two dogs to Dr Hendricks' practice with snake bites.

The owner saw that it was a red-belly black snake and was able to get his dogs to treatment within 20 minutes, just as they started vomiting.

“Generally, the earlier you get in, the earlier we can administer anti-venom and the better chance your dog has got,” Dr Hendricks said.

“You also need to try to identify what snake it was.

“It is difficult to know what snake bit your dog, but the most common are red-belly black, brown and tiger snakes.”

That's why an anti-venom was developed that covered all three snakes.

If you think your dog may have been bitten, Dr Hendricks said to look out for these symptoms; the dog comes from the bush and is shaking, hyper-salivating, its pupils are dilated and unresponsive to light, vomiting and diarrhoea.

To prevent your dog from getting bitten make sure your lawn is mown.

“By far most effective method is to keep grass as short as possible and don’t allow an area for them to hide; so watch bushes, rocks and mulch,” Dr Hendricks said.

“All hidey-holes that makes a snake feel safe, increases your chance of getting them. Snakes hate being out in the open.”

Pet owners can also buy solar-powered vibrating sticks which creates pulses in the ground.

Chickens or turkeys will also attack snakes.

However, poultry attract vermin, which in turn attract more snakes.

“If your dog is bitten, call ahead so we can set up,” he said.

“Also, if animal is bitten on the leg, tie something around the top of leg to stop movement of toxins through the body.”