Neoclassic Perk Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 from Liz Jay on Beardie list, cross posted with permission.... Liz Jay wrote: An old friend of mine has issued her yearly message about snakes. Her son-in - law is an expert on snakes and has said that it's time to warn people that adders are out and very toxic. They will still be in the area of their hibernation, particularly roots of silver birch,and heathland and there can be up to about 20 of them in one place. If the weather gets colder,they will stay around there until it warms up,then they will disperse in small groups of 3 -4 until they have found a mate then eaten. If a dog gets bitten at this time,it is unlikely to survive,unless very prompt treatment can be given,and as the snakes are very sluggish,they will be very slow moving. Please cross post to any other Groups that this might be of value to. Hopefully none of us will be unfortunate enough to come across the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Thanks for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K9Fran Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 A Labradoodle on another forum I subscribe to is on a drip at the moment. A useful tip is to always carry Piriton or similar Anti histamines, a small/medium sized dog can have half a tablet, a larger dog a whole one - better a very sleepy dog than a dead one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jax39 Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Thats useful to know. One of my dogs stood on one last year. and I also walk another two on heathland every day. Can the piriton save their lives? I may well buy some just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendbert Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 I knew adder's were dangerous but I didn't realise this was the time of year for them. I'm off to google them so I know what to keep a look out for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Thats useful to know. One of my dogs stood on one last year. and I also walk another two on heathland every day. Can the piriton save their lives? I may well buy some just in case. I wouldn't rely on it to save a life but it may buy you some time. If a dog is bitten you need to keep it as still as possible. Moving speeds up the circulation of the poison, so a dog should be kept calm and should be carried, if possible. A makeshift stretcher can be made out of a jacket or coat and long branches. A cold compress over the wound will help. Get the dog to the nearest vet asap. If you can phone ahead and warn them you are on their way. I also read the advice that, if you walk in an area where adders are known to be then carry details of the nearest vet with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 A useful tip is to always carry Piriton or similar Anti histamines, a small/medium sized dog can have half a tablet, a larger dog a whole one - better a very sleepy dog than a dead one Piriton (chlorphenamine) is routinely presribed by vets for allergies in dogs. My Timmy (14 kilos) has up to two a day in the spring/summer without any drowsiness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 ETA : Found a link with a bit more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 There are 3 or 4 old railway lines very near me that is used by a lot of dog walkers (me included), I only ever take my lot along them in the dry as they are so low to the ground but I have kept them on lead the last few times as there is a lot of branches down on the ground and masses of leaf litter around the roots of all the trees, adder poison is painful in humans, can be lethal in dogs didnt know about piriton though adders are brownish greenish with a zig zag pattern down their bodies and blend in perfectly to leaf litter and undergrowth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyLou Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 ekkkk thanks for that...... i go to the new forest quite a bit and walked in the forest last weekend with the girls. I knew the new forest was riddled with adders but thought prime time was later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Years ago my Aunts dog was bitten by an adder in his own garden. He survived but within a year he developed cancer in the same leg which did kill him. I rather think that it can't have been coincidence and something in the venom must have "triggered" the cancer in some way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K9Fran Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Sadly, Oscar, the Labradoodle, developed complications (DCI?) and died yesterday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boosboss Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Sadly, Oscar, the Labradoodle, developed complications (DCI?) and died yesterday Oh No! How sad Run Free Oscar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western star Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Timely reminder - thanks We were out with dogs on Shaptor (Dartmoor) this aft and hubby was in front with Buz and asked me to hold him for a min (I had Eve) and i thought he'd found a carcass that he didnt want dogs to eat, but he was poking the leaves about and was sure he'd seen a snake dontworry about poking about he was a RM so is a trained killer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choccypaws Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Thanks for the warning Run free little Oscar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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