Cushat Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 First day of the season for us yesterday, new keeper on the place and a few politics around, so keen to show up and prove to be a reliable picker up. Morning was fine, picked a few long runners (including a few for the gaffer which he saw, so that always goes down well), stopped for lunch, gave the dog a quick dry down as she was soaked from some water work, few Bonios and some water and left her in the truck. Came back after lunch and her front leg was massively swollen and black. It gradually got worse so got on to the vets and whipped her in - they've kept her in there on antibiotic, steriod and morphine drips as they're concerned it could be a snake bite. Other alternatives are some other type of bite or sting or a nasty infection she could have got from a thorn or something. Although there are Adders around this area, I'd have thought it was too cold for them to still be about - anyone know much about snakes and whether they're still active this time of year? Emergency vets - now that's another story - £120 consultancy fee (4pm on a Saturday afternoon) plus the overnight fees and she reckoned we'd be over £500 by the time we picked he up. Yikes! And I reckon she'll be out for a couple of weeks too. Still the keepers were both on the phone last night checking how she was so hopefully we'll not lose our picking up slot!! Fingers crossed we get to pick her up this afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magus69 Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Yes the Adders are probably still active at this time of year,they have to gain as much weight as possible for their hibernation. They will spend most of the day sunning themselves to bring up their body temperatures as they cannot thermoregulate and once they've warmed up will be at their most aggressive (although they're not really an aggressive species). Thankfully unless you're an Adders prey species if they bite they do not fully invenomate as it's too precious to them it's more of a quick tag to say sod off,but this still causes the large localised swelling and discomfort as you described and could be extremely serious if you happen to find that you/your animal is allergic. Anyway enough of the herpetology the more important thing is how is she?,is she home yet?. Hoping that everything's ok and she's not out of action for too long. Mike... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 (edited) I do not know about it being too cold for snakes. The weather has been hotter during most of September and October than it was in mid summer ( in Norfolk we had several days in July that only just reached 13C yet a couple of weeks ago we a number of days of of 20C ) so i am not surprised snakes are still active. Edited October 27, 2008 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popgun Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 I saw a large Adder under a bit of tin 2 days ago here in dorset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Thanks guys - that seals it then - almost certainly a snake bite. The vets were pretty convinced, the only doubt being that it was so late in the year. Picked her up last night, but she's still really unsettled and whining all the time - most unlike her. She's got her appetite back though, but apart from that she's pretty miserable. A trip to our local vets this morning to have her checked over again, so hopefully that'll put our minds at rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR1960 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Saw an adder at the weekend in dunes at horsey (Norfolk), if its warm enough they'll be around. Problem is if its cool they'll also be dopey and less likely to move and thus more likely to bite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Still feeling sorry for herself and another painkilling injection at the vets, but hopefully now on the mend... The swelling has gone down loads but it's still a ripe old colour under there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Poor Hound - hope she's better soon Cushcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJUK Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 My close friend keeps venomous snakes and they key with ever getting bitten is. Stay calm. put pressure above the wound - to restrict its spread Seek medical attention ASAP. I think only 1 person has ever been killed by an adder, I think thats right anyway! Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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