05/05/2022
A post we have shared many times but one that we feel is super important, especially this weekend with many of you out and about enjoying this spring sunshine. These early spring days can often be a dangerous time as we are not the only ones to enjoy the first warm sunshine of the year.
For our native cold-blooded wildlife, these warm days mean an opportunity after the long cold winter months to bask in the sunshine and become fully active again after leaving hibernation.
The very beautiful looking Adder (Vipera berus) is our only native snake which is venomous and therefore potentially harmful. According to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, most adder bites occur between April and July. Adders are mostly secretive and prefer to avoid contact with other animals and humans, however until their body temperature rises enough they are sluggish and often cannot get out of the way in time when danger approaches. An inquisitive nose sniffing the ground or a paw put down in close proximity can get into trouble if the snake strikes in self defence - most adder bites we see are on the head, neck, lower legs or feet.
Adders can vary in colour from pale grey through green brown shade to reddish brown. All colour varieties have a dark brown or black zig zag pattern on their backs but this can be difficult to see in shaded light. Unless injured the adder will move away from the scene as quickly as possible so it is only very rarely that the snake can be seen and identified.
If you suspect your dog may have been bitten by an adder please ring either of our hospitals immediately so that we can be prepared to attend to your dog as soon as you arrive. Remember we have veterinary staff on site at both of our Chichester and Storrington hospitals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is certainly an emergency situation when you need your emergency provider nearby.
Signs of an adder bite:
*Very rapid swelling around the area of the bite
*Bruising or bleeding where bitten
*Weakness and lethargy
*Panting
*Lameness
*Drooling
*Vomiting
If bitten your dog may show some or all of these symptoms and they are likely to get progressively worse as time passes after the incident. Adder bites are very painful so even the most stoical of dogs will be showing signs of severe discomfort and will not want to be touched around the area of the bite. If left untreated the dog may develop tremors and convulsions, blood clotting disorders and eventually collapse.
If you are not sure exactly what happened but suspect that your dog may have been bitten please call us - even if your dog is yet to show any signs.
First aid:
*Don’t panic - if you don't remember the following steps to take at the scene ring us and we will talk you through them
*Do try to keep calm, in this way your dog is more likely to remain calm too. Stress and excitement can speed up your dog’s circulation and therefore the spread of toxins.
*Do ignore the snake, don’t risk getting bitten yourself and remember that they are a protected species so harming them is illegal
*Do not prod or poke the bite area, it will be very painful and your dog will not appreciate it
*Do not - under any circumstances - apply any kind of tourniquet to your dog
*Do carry or calmly walk your dog back to your vehicle, excessive movement and excitement can speed up the spread of the toxins.
At the hospital:
Treatment protocols will depend on the severity of the bite, how much time has passed since the bite occurred and other factors including the general health of your dog and whether he or she has any pre-existing medical conditions. Your dog will be admitted to the hospital for monitoring and close observation and blood tests may be run. Treatment will initially focus on alleviating shock, minimising swelling, supportive care and pain relief. In some cases anti-venom may be recommended.
Remember… if in doubt please call us - the sooner your dog can receive treatment the better the chances of making a full recovery.
Otherwise enjoy the sun!
Edit. We have had many queries regarding anti histamine use. PLEASE READ..... We would always advise owners to carry anti histamine in the car in the dog walking bag etc. Whilst its certainly not enough to treat an adder bite, it would do no harm at all and in fact histamine is released after a bite so it may help a little on the way to the emergency vet. We would always prefer an owner to keep our number stored on their phone in an emergency as we are always happy to provide telephone advice, however as a rule of thumb you are correct in that our recommended dose rate of Piriton would be 4mg for a 10kg dog. With smaller dogs we would advise starting with half a tablet. At worst it will cause a little sedation but nothing more. Having said all of this please remember getting to the vet immediately is really important. Hope that helps a little. Please store our hospital phone numbers on your mobile.
Both of our hospital sites are open 24/7. For our Westergate and Chichester clients you should call Chichester on 01243 978800 and for our Worthing, Ashington, Pulborough and Storrington clients you should call Storrington on 01903 746028.
