11/04/2026
🐶🐶🐶
ADDER WARNING
Adders are Britain's only venomous snake and while adder bites are rare, it is certainly sensible for anyone who walks in the countryside to have some awareness of how to keep safe.
An adder bite should always be treated as an emergency and has the potential to be fatal for dogs and humans and can cause complications if left untreated.
Adders are shy creatures and would rather avoid interactions with humans or dogs, they are only likely to bite when they feel cornered and will attack as a last resort.
Most bites occur between April and July when snakes like to come out of their underground nests to bask in the sunshine to warm up before a spot of hunting. It is during these times when they might be cold and sluggish that they pose a greater risk to people and animals.
When they are warm, they are also fast and alert and will likely spot you and leave before you see them. It is when they are warming up and sleepy that people accidentally step on them or curious dogs approach them and suffer a bite.
Snakes can be found in grasslands, sandy dunes, heaths, rocky hillsides, moorland and the edges of woodland. They seek out areas where they can remain hidden while they hunt but can easily reach open areas to bask in the sunlight.
The majority of my own personal sightings have occurred in or near ditches that run alongside a thick hedge or the edge of woodland with plenty of ground cover. They tend to camouflage rather well and can be tricky to spot until you are pretty much on top of them!
To Avoid Bites - Dogs & Humans
✅ Humans should wear sturdy footwear and trousers - flip-flops are asking for trouble!
✅ If you see a snake - leave it alone! Adders are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 so it is an offence to kill, harm or interfere with them.
✅ Consider putting your dog on a lead in areas where there may be snakes, dogs can be curious and will often approach snakes or try to sniff or play with them which will almost certainly provoke a bite.
✅ If you let your dog off the lead in potentially higher risk areas, consider doing so when snakes are unlikely to be such a risk. Snakes don't tend to leave their nest until the temperature reaches 10 degrees and once the temperature approaches 20 degrees, they are likely to be warm and alert and therefore less of a worry. Also they don't come out after dark or when it is raining.
What To Do In The Event Of A Bite
HUMAN:
✅Stay calm – most snake bites in the UK are not serious and can be treated
✅Keep the part of your body that was bitten as still as you can
✅Lie in the recovery position if you can
✅Take paracetamol for any pain
✅Try to remember the colour and pattern of the snake to tell the doctor
✅Take off any jewellery and loosen clothes near the bite, in case the skin swells
✅Do NOT take ibuprofen or aspirin as these can worsen bleeding.
✅Do NOT go near the snake, or try to catch or kill it
✅Do NOT try to suck or cut the poison (venom) out of the bite
✅Do NOT tie anything tightly around the part of the body where the bite is
DOG:
✅Stay calm
✅If you see the snake, try to remember what it looks like, or take a photo from a distance.
✅Keep your dog as still as possible to prevent the venom from spreading around their body
✅Leave the bite alone, don't apply a bandage or tourniquet.
✅Call your vet to let them know you are coming down to the practice.
✅If possible, bring a car to your dog or depending on their weight, carry them to it.
Sometimes you might not actually see that your dog has been bitten by a snake. Symptoms can take anywhere from minutes to an hour to become apparent and the severity will often depend on where the bite occurred and whether the venom has entered the bloodstream.
Pain and swelling will be apparent where the bite occurred and you might see tiny bite marks. Symptoms might include panting, drooling, pale membranes, vomiting and diarrhoea.
More serious symptoms might include facial swelling, weakness, convulsions, difficulty breathing, severe bruising and bleeding and collapse.
*Remember, adder bites are rare and although they can be serious both humans and dogs are unlikely to experience major problems provided medical or veterinary help is sought in good time.
Www.cottagefarmdogtraining.co.uk
