Dry bite simply means a bite from a venomous snake without envenomation. Venom pumping is not an automatic action. It involves muscle control as the venom is pushed from the venom glands through the ducts and through the fangs, into the target. Therefore, venomous snakes do not pump out venom every time they strike. They choose when to, and when not to. Dry bites can be painful and may cause swelling and redness around the bit.
Why is dry bite necessary? To conserve venoms. Venoms are like "unlimited data" or some Naija networks. They're actually limited. If the snake wastes it, it becomes vulnerable. So, they only pump venoms when they need to hunt an animal for food or when they perceive a major threat. It takes time to make more venoms. That's why the people that milk venom from captive snakes do it every two weeks.
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Point to note: Baby snakes are more dangerous sometimes because they don't dry bite. They only learn how to control the muscles associated with envenomation as they grow. It's just that they produce less venom. Black mambas, whether young or adult, also don't dry bite. If they have to strike, they pump venoms. You can't always tell if a bite is a dry bite, you should treat all snake bites as a medical emergency. If you're bitten by a snake, you should:
Call emergency services
Move away from the snake
Stay calm
Remove any jewelry or tight clothing
Clean the bite with soap and water
Cover the bite with a clean, dry bandage.
You should not apply a tourniquet, try to cut out the poison, or suck it out with your mouth. You should also not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.
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