Snakes attack: Record numbers of dogs and cats bitten in Melbourne serpent surge

Pet owners are being warned to take extra care of their animals with a record number of cats and dogs being bitten as the warmer Melbourne weather brings more snakes than usual into the suburbs.

Just three days ago, Pickle the bull terrier was fighting for his life after taking on a deadly tiger snake in his own backyard.

Moments earlier, Fiona had been walking barefoot in the backyard and says Pickle potentially saved her life.

"He's a smart dog, he's a very smart dog."

She has already lost one dog to a snake bite and couldn't bear the thought of losing another

"We would have been devastated."

Today he's happily playing and leaping around but it was a far more bleak outlook that had his owners feeling grim.

"He was standing really still and he started vomiting and frothing from the mouth," said owner Fiona.

While vets at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital were able to save Pickle, he's now a victim to the record number of snake bite attacks this month.

"We'd see roughly six to 12 snake cases a year," Dr Andrew Kapsis told 7 News.

"This month Lort Smith has already seen 20 cats and dogs."

The unusually warm October weather is definitely drawing out the venomous snakes and they're coming closer to the suburbs.

Pet owners are being warned to walk dogs on leads, especially near long grass and water, and keep their yards mowed and free of clutter.

Ten-year-old Bobo the cat is still recovering after being bitten by a brown snake on Sunday.

Bobo is expected to return home tomorrow.