Dogs and Adders

[Pesty]

Posting that pic reminded me.

Mine and Logan's favourite place is a peat Bog near by. There are apparently adders a plenty there (whenever it is they come out of their holes)

is a dog being bitten by snakes common. should I avoid the area until next winter now or is the problem exaggerated.

There are a few vets on here I was wondering if you carry anti venom?

[digger the goat]

http://www.vpisuk.co.uk/portal/Vets/AdderAntivenom...

I think there was only one 'recorded' dog fatality last year. ( I may be mistaken ).

Adders are quite prevalent around here ... East Anglia.... but I tend not to worry.

They are more likely to stay hidden or back off, than actively attack.

[Pesty]

Thanks I'll ask my vet and show them that. If I've read it right they can get some free.

It does seem like it's a very very small risk.

[bexVN]

Just be vigilant.

I've known 2 dogs die from adder bites due to the owners not knowing they'd been bitten until several days after.

The area of the bite can suffer skin death etc but will usually recover.

As for antivenom some vets may stock it if in a high adder area (we used it years ago for a retriever at my first practice!) my current practice doesn't stock it so would prob have to phone around should the need arise, I don't really think it is always needed tbh.

[Pesty]

Thanks.

It's just on the moors the other day a twitcher told another dog owner he had seen 8 and it was dangerous for dogs . They told me this as they were leaving.

Now I'm pretty sure they are not around yet and I walked around 7 miles and never saw one. I do know that the twitchers there well some anyway resent dog owners there. So I'm guessing it was a crock of st to scare them away which it did.

However there are loads of adders there I saw plenty as a kid. Logan isn't the hunting type so I should be mostly ok. Probably avoid mating season at least though.

[otolith]

Personally, I would be very surprised to see any sort of reptile out at this time of year, though I suppose it has been mild.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Not that it helps, but one of my cats was bitten by an adder and lost its leg , had about 3 operations and 3 weeks at the vets!

[Wheat]

A friend of mine was out on an unseasonably hot January day last year, and his lab was bitten by an adder.. Didn't notice for a couple of hours and then the dog went rapidly down hill. Very nearly died. Lost all skin on one leg and was in doggie hospital for weeks! It was touch and go wether it would loose its legs but thankfully made a full recovery. Not nice for the family. Having said that he was very unlucky and my general opinion is you can wrap them up in cotton wool and you can't live a life stressing about it.

[gary3170]

otolith said:

Personally, I would be very surprised to see any sort of reptile out at this time of year, though I suppose it has been mild.

they are out there mate even here,in sweden in the local paper a lady posted a pic of one (adder) on 25th feb!!! in sweden,not normal as its been a mild winter but to see an adder in febuary in sweden !
and bites are very common here to dogs and cats a mate of mines golden was bit on the nose and died within the hour :-(
i never let my bulldog off leash in the forest here,and always carry a big stick :-( they are endangered though

[CarlT]

Quite a few reptiles where I walk my 2 and touch wood never had any problems. I know someone whose Lab was bitten, but was taken to a vets and all fine.
They swell up almost immediately and should be easy to spot...