markbjones01 Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 hi folks thought i ought to make this post to give everyone a bit of a warning I went out this afternoon for a long walk with the dog (hungarian Vizsla) , Meeka went into a lovely point in some longish grass i moved up to her side hopping to see her pinting a rabbit or pheasant, thankfuly she was steady but 18 inches infront of her was an adder face on to her ! normally they slide away but this one didnt !.. i slipped her lead on without making a fuss and walked away, personally i know 2 people that have had 3 dogs killed between them from adders !! SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL !! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren 67 Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 Its always worried me. How would you know the dogs been bit straight away and how could you identify what bit him/her to a vet if its done one before you get to see it? How long would i have to get to a vet with a hyperactive springer and would they have an antivenom available if you could identify what bit your dog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 a few years ago while me and a mate were out bushing for rabbits with a few jack russells we noticed one of the russells was baying at a tuff of grass so over we went there he was a adder he hit her on the side of the face and we were a good distance from the car but we got her back to the car where her face had blown up we took her to a vet in the end on a sunday where his reply was if she wasnt as fit as she was she would of died before we got her to him .so keep your dogs fit they will stand a better chance of getting to a vet alive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 My place backs on to 600 arces of heathland and sand dunes that lead to the beach, there are loads of warning signs about Adders and i walk my dogs there twice a day and have done for 11 years and on our caravan & campsite we have many people staying with dogs who walk them there as well. In 11 years i know of only 6 Adder bites (1 on my old black lab) and none were fatal. Our local vet keeps all the stuff they need because there are a lot of Adders about. As previously said the Adders do their best to get away but dogs with a keen sense to hunt are the ones normaly bitten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 Its always worried me. How would you know the dogs been bit straight away and how could you identify what bit him/her to a vet if its done one before you get to see it? How long would i have to get to a vet with a hyperactive springer and would they have an antivenom available if you could identify what bit your dog? I have seen a few bites, but by no means an expert. The dogs get unwell quite quick 5 - 10 mins you will notice the differance. With my lab her coat went very dull, but in other breeds more diffecult to notice, the dogs drool a lot, not drips long shoelace drool, swelling in the bite area, basicly your dog will look very unwell. When people ask me on the campsite for the vets number i go through the same questions. When did they notice they were ill, do they normaly hunt when out, did they yelp on that walk unexpectedly. Drooling, swelling?? I think if you can stop them moving to much in might slow down the venom, but i don't know this as fact. It took about an 1 1/2 hours for my lab to get the injections, we were a long way from home and she was F$%^&*! heavy, and the vet was out on call. She was fine once the vet got the stuff into her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenthomas Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 hi folks thought i ought to make this post to give everyone a bit of a warning I went out this afternoon for a long walk with the dog (hungarian Vizsla) , Meeka went into a lovely point in some longish grass i moved up to her side hopping to see her pinting a rabbit or pheasant, thankfuly she was steady but 18 inches infront of her was an adder face on to her ! normally they slide away but this one didnt !.. i slipped her lead on without making a fuss and walked away, personally i know 2 people that have had 3 dogs killed between them from adders !! SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL !! . Whereabouts in Hants are you? I see a lot where I am, Minley/Farnborough area. They are all out basking in the sun here at the moment. I am carrying antihistamine in the car with me whenever am out with the dogs, 1 of mine is allergic to EVERYTHING so hoping she doesn't come across one. :( Helen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gedney Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 I was bitten myself last year ,ive handled many snakes adders included ,iwas trying to photograph this one and was moving it out into the open ,it managed to turn its head and bite me ,symptoms were a burning at the site of the bite ,and then flu type symtoms for about a week ,i would imagine it could be much worse for a small dog ,ps ive handled a few since this ,but dont bother much now as i beleive adders are in enough trouble,without undue disturbance,locally numbers seem well down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbjones01 Posted April 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 Whereabouts in Hants are you? I see a lot where I am, Minley/Farnborough area. They are all out basking in the sun here at the moment. I am carrying antihistamine in the car with me whenever am out with the dogs, 1 of mine is allergic to EVERYTHING so hoping she doesn't come across one. :( Helen. Hi helen this was next to meon valley golf course ( well just off one of its fairways but makes nice training ground loads of rabbits to point)ive seen loads over the years in the new forest but personaly all the ones ive seen have been sliding away. the father in law lost his dog 4 or 5 years ago in this area too but he didnt recognise the symptoms until far too late :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom&Dexter Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 very lucky one of the farms I have the farmer has a collie that lost a leg due to a adder bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted April 20, 2011 Report Share Posted April 20, 2011 It is rare for a dog to die from an adder bite, a human hasn't died for about 30 years (IIRC). In areas where a lot of adders are about the vets will likely have some adder anti-venom, but many vets don't (us included). It's an expensive product that comes with quite a short date. There are common allergic reactions to the anti-venom and it is possible that the dog may survive the bite but die as a reaction to the treatment. Many adders 'dry strike' so although they have fang punctures no venom may be injected. Supportive therapy with steroids, fluids and antibiotics can be just as successful and is a lot safer. If the dog is given venom it is common for the skin to die away (slough) a week or two later and this can be nasty and take some time to heel. If you think your dog has been bitten get it to a vet. ALWAYS ring first with an emergency as the vet may be out on calls and it allows them to be heading towards the surgery even if you beat them there. It's tempting to bung the dog in the car and set straight off, but this is never for the best (unless your vets is a 24 hour emergency centre). Don't apply any tourniquets, they make no difference. Keep the dog calm, an ice pack over the area may help sooth the dog and reduce the overall swelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenthomas Posted April 21, 2011 Report Share Posted April 21, 2011 Apache, what about the antihistamine? Is that advisable or not? With thanks, Helen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Antihistamine may help a little. Not really an allergic reaction though. If you have some in the car it won't do any harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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