Adders.
- Thread starter limulus
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Moray Outfitting
Well-Known Member
A very good question to pose and I await a professional response with interest.
I know what I would do at the moment - but rather than risk muddying the water; I'd rather hear what the professionals we have on here advise.
But I'd amend the context - last year a dog was bitten several times in the village - bare yards away from the primary school and in an area no one gave a thought to snakes being present. I do not know what first aid was applied, but the dog survived after some form of serum was flown in for it. So doesn't have to be wild - but I appreciate the context - ie time to get aid etc.
I know what I would do at the moment - but rather than risk muddying the water; I'd rather hear what the professionals we have on here advise.
But I'd amend the context - last year a dog was bitten several times in the village - bare yards away from the primary school and in an area no one gave a thought to snakes being present. I do not know what first aid was applied, but the dog survived after some form of serum was flown in for it. So doesn't have to be wild - but I appreciate the context - ie time to get aid etc.
Tell the dog to sit while I grab some photos of the adder - I can take photos of my dogs at any time, but adders are something special 
Joking aside, in Sutherland on several occasions I've now seen dogs - labradors and terriers - bitten by adders.
In some cases the owners have rushed to the vet, in others they've just kept the dog calm and cool, dousing any swelling with cold water. Both approaches seem to have worked equally effectively.
The stalker's terrier has been bitten on multiple occasions, but never been to the vet for any treatment because of it
In nearly all the above cases the bite was on the muzzle - presumably because the dog was investigating the adder - so not quite sure how a tourniquet would have helped here! I'd actually fear a tourniquet would do more harm than good.
I assume we're talking UK adders here, not puff adders!
Joking aside, in Sutherland on several occasions I've now seen dogs - labradors and terriers - bitten by adders.
In some cases the owners have rushed to the vet, in others they've just kept the dog calm and cool, dousing any swelling with cold water. Both approaches seem to have worked equally effectively.
The stalker's terrier has been bitten on multiple occasions, but never been to the vet for any treatment because of it
In nearly all the above cases the bite was on the muzzle - presumably because the dog was investigating the adder - so not quite sure how a tourniquet would have helped here! I'd actually fear a tourniquet would do more harm than good.
I assume we're talking UK adders here, not puff adders!
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Have known of dogs being bitten and recovering on their own, also knew a stalker who was bitten and never went to a doctor,never been bitten myself and I don't imagine its a pleasant experience, but the truth is that an adder bite is seldom fatal unless the victim has an underlying medical condition
NorthDorset
Well-Known Member
Nuke from orbit, only way to be sure.
Spending a chunk of my formative years in Australia, I have a healthy respect for them also.
I am almost proud to say I have never seen an Adder.
I found a new location for our wildfowling dog training in the summer months as they were using a bit of marsh and one dog got bitten.
So a friend lets us use a 4 acre flat mowed Adder free field....
Tim.243
So a friend lets us use a 4 acre flat mowed Adder free field....
Tim.243
Stacey
Well-Known Member
We got told the same, they said it would give us enough time to get the dog to the vets. Had a couple of dogs bitten but the got struck on the hock, their legs didn't swell up for about an hour by which time we were back in town. They got given a seline drip and Metacam. Had them home 20 mins after going to the vets and they were fine.
stacey
ILoveBambi
Well-Known Member
Had a dog bitten by an adder a few years ago. She went on point then smack right on the lower jaw. So what did I do?
1. Shouted the dog "down"
2. Identified the cause - adder
3. Introduced adder to 150 grain high velocity .308 (I thought it may be needed at the vets for identification and I wasn't picking it up alive)
4. Gave dog an anti histamine from my first aid kit.
5. 30 minutes jog back to the car with dog trotting by my side. God knows how long it would have taken to carry rifle, kit bag & 36kg Weimaraner.
6. Phone vets out of hours contact in my phone and I know where the surgery is, contingency planning
7. Drove to vets like a maniac possessed
8. Dog treated and was back out tracking a shot deer 10 hours later.
I'll see if I can dig a phot out she was a right state
ILB
1. Shouted the dog "down"
2. Identified the cause - adder
3. Introduced adder to 150 grain high velocity .308 (I thought it may be needed at the vets for identification and I wasn't picking it up alive)
4. Gave dog an anti histamine from my first aid kit.
5. 30 minutes jog back to the car with dog trotting by my side. God knows how long it would have taken to carry rifle, kit bag & 36kg Weimaraner.
6. Phone vets out of hours contact in my phone and I know where the surgery is, contingency planning
7. Drove to vets like a maniac possessed
8. Dog treated and was back out tracking a shot deer 10 hours later.
I'll see if I can dig a phot out she was a right state
ILB
Adders are a protected species hefty fine for killing one.
jackfish
Well-Known Member
My mates Lab was bitten on the hock a couple of years back when fishing up on the Aberdeenshire Dee, the dog was never treated for the bite and made a full recovery but it left the leg in a right state for a while and you can still see the marks to this day as there has been no hair regrowth on the wound.
ILoveBambi
Well-Known Member
Vet told me they don't have anti venom, that would only be for human use in hospital. Mine was treated with antibiotics, anti inflammatory, steroid and anti histamine. Vet said it wasn't the poison that killed dogs but anafalactic shock.
I've only ever seen the one but that was one too many
ILB
I was bitten once on the back of my calf. It hurt like hell! Similar to a wasp sting but many times more painful. Almost immediately I felt like I'd got a really bad hang over.
Doctor (on the phone) advised no treatment as I was fit and healthy, I recall that he did say that the uk anti-venom is a very general drug with unpleasant side effects, very similar to the morning after pill.
He said not to take pain killers as the pain should peak almost straight away then gradually subside, if it doesn't subside then you may have complications which you should be aware of. After four or five hours all effects had completely gone other than a severe bruise and tenderness at the bite site.
This was about fifteen years ago so advice may have changed.
I've never had a dog bitten but I've seen a few close encounters.
Doctor (on the phone) advised no treatment as I was fit and healthy, I recall that he did say that the uk anti-venom is a very general drug with unpleasant side effects, very similar to the morning after pill.
He said not to take pain killers as the pain should peak almost straight away then gradually subside, if it doesn't subside then you may have complications which you should be aware of. After four or five hours all effects had completely gone other than a severe bruise and tenderness at the bite site.
This was about fifteen years ago so advice may have changed.
I've never had a dog bitten but I've seen a few close encounters.
ILoveBambi
Well-Known Member
Not sure if I would be happy with I can order it in for next day delivery !!
i think that's probably as good as not available if it's not in stock then is it any use 24 hours after the bite the dogs either doing ok or dead
ILB
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