Help with dog bitten by Adder?

andyp · #1 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 02:16 PM

HI I am new to forum, basically can any one help, I live in leicester UK, my dog is seriously ill with what the vets suspects as an Adder bite, can any one tell me if they know are adders located in Leicester, we walk him around fields which are surrounded by thick woodlands ?

Carl · #2 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyp

HI I am new to forum, basically can any one help, I live in leicester UK, my dog is seriously ill with what the vets suspects as an Adder bite, can any one tell me if they know are adders located in Leicester, we walk him around fields which are surrounded by thick woodlands ?

By the sounds of it mate i`d say that it was an adder, Just in case ya didn`t know adders are the only venomous snake in Britain, anywayz here`s a link i found for ya mate.
I hope your dog gets better.
Adder or Viper - Vipera berus

demicav · #3 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyp

HI I am new to forum, basically can any one help, I live in leicester UK, my dog is seriously ill with what the vets suspects as an Adder bite, can any one tell me if they know are adders located in Leicester, we walk him around fields which are surrounded by thick woodlands ?

You get Adders in a lot of areas all over the UK. They're fantastic creatures. There's a good chance your dog will pull through if treatment started early enough. I was recently in Wales with 2 dogs and 3 children and surrounded by Adders. I had to keep the dogs on the lead in the area where there was definate Adder activity but you never know when or where really as your case goes to show. Adders are very shy animals and biting is not a first option for them, they prefer to slither away. Unfortunately dogs tend to sniff and lick and can probably seem very intimidating to a snake, hence they end up getting bitten. Hope your dog pulls through, it may be better to keep him on the lead in that area in future.

theanimallover · #4 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 04:27 PM

My dog got bitten by an adder, around 10 years ago (not the dog i have now). He was lying outside, and at first I thought I might have ran him over, I just couldn't work it out. Any way rushed him to the vet and they said it was an adder bite, he was really bad, but he recovered fully...

Andy Warne · #5 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 06:43 PM

Sorry to hear about your dog. There certainly are Adders in Leicestershire, I've only ever seen them in Charnwood and Rutland though, I believe they released some captive bred ones recently at Beacon Hill. Woodland edges/rides are good places to find them.

kev747 · #6 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 06:55 PM

This happened a few years ago when a dog was bitten on Bradgate park.I am sure they had to go as far as Nottingham for anti venom as it was reported in the Leicester Mercury.Considering a child could get bitten I think it is ridiculous if anti venom is not kept closer to Leicester in case of emergencies.I hope your dog recovers and gets the proper treatment Andy. I have been on Bradgate many times but never seen them as they often hide in the bracken.They are supposedly around beacon hill and surrounding fields too.

demicav · #7 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev747

This happened a few years ago when a dog was bitten on Bradgate park.I am sure they had to go as far as Nottingham for anti venom as it was reported in the Leicester Mercury.Considering a child could get bitten I think it is ridiculous if anti venom is not kept closer to Leicester in case of emergencies.I hope your dog recovers and gets the proper treatment Andy. I have been on Bradgate many times but never seen them as they often hide in the bracken.They are supposedly around beacon hill and surrounding fields too.

Yes they're very good at hiding. I'm shocked they had to travel so far for the anti venom. At Easter my 8 yr old daughter nearly stood on one in Wales. We just stumbled on them accidently in an area we'd been before. She was well within striking distance and I know she disturbed it, yet it chose to just move away. We all love snakes and did manage to take pictures but I'll never forget the close call my daughter had, even though it didn't faze her and she's very proud of it now. I would have thought that in these areas anti venom would be kept nearby.

dragonfly · #8 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 07:12 PM

hya as far as i know they dont live in nottingham area

Cotham Marble · #9 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demicav

I would have thought that in these areas anti venom would be kept nearby.

Adder bites are no more serious for humans that are bee stings - susceptible individuals may suffer an alergic reaction but 99.9% of the population need nothing more than a paracetamol. Obviously children are more of worry but deaths from adder bites even amongst children are almost unknown.

Relatively speaking, the most dangerous time is early in the year when the venom sacks have a full winter's charge, thereafter regular kills keep the amount of available venom to a minimum. Adders are shy creatures and will only attack non prey if actually harmed or restrained - basically you've got to tread on one or pick it up - or if you are dog, start playing with it.

I'd say any sunny woodland edge or bracken covered slope would be likely have adders - so tread carefully.

CM

SparklySarah · #10 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 09:12 PM

Heya. Really sorry to hear about your dog, I do hope he gets better soon!

My brother got bitten on the thumb by an adder in France once on a school trip. His teacher said it was a lizzard..... last time I looked, lizzards have legs!! And of course my brother picked it up, and it bit him. He eventually got it into a hat, and then he was told it was an adder! His whole arm went dead in the three days he was there, and they did nothing about it! Didn't even tell mum! He recovered perfectly though.

By the way, give your dog a hug for me!