Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Joanne Welford & Nia Dalton

Owner 'petrified' after puppy bitten in face by poisonous snake is unresponsive

A dog owner is warning walkers after her puppy was bitten in the face by an adder snake during a walk.

Labrador cross Rocco quickly became floppy and unresponsive at Birk Brow, just outside Guisborough on Saturday.

His owner Hollie Serginson, from Lingdale, feared she was going to lose him on the 45-minute drive to the closest emergency vet.

The 16-week-old developed a swollen face but made it in time to be injected with anti venom and pain relief.

Thankfully, the young pup is now back at home and recovering - although he's still lethargic after all the medication.

Hollie had a £1.8k vet bill for his treatment, but is just thankful he's on the mend.

The young puppy was unresponsive and floppy (GAZETTE MEDIA COMPANY SYNDICATION)

Sign up to our TeamDogs newsletter for your weekly dose of dog news, pictures and stories.

Hollie said: "It was a scary situation I wouldn't ever want someone else to be in.

"My dad was with him and saw the snake next to Rocco hissing and slithering into the bushes angrily, Rocco jumped when bitten but didn't cry or whimper.

"Rocco's face began to swell immediately, he became floppy and unresponsive rapidly - dad had to drive from the moors to Stockton vets as that was the only out of hours one open.

"During the 45 minute drive my dad thought he was going to lose him as he was that unwell.

Hollie was terrified when Rocco almost didn't make it (GAZETTE MEDIA COMPANY SYNDICATION)

"Rocco was bit on the face and remained in the vets over night on drips and had an antivenom injection amongst a cocktail of pain relief.

"It was petrifying and we want to raise awareness for it. Rocco will have been curious of the snake in the middle of the path walkway.

"Please please be careful when walking your little four legged friends over the moors at this time of year."

The adder is the UK's only venomous snake and usually hibernates from October to March.

Adders are the UK's only poisonous snake (Getty Images)

They can be found across the country and are greyish in colour with a distinct zig-zag pattern down their backs..

Adders tend to keep themselves to themselves and don't bite unless they are scared, but dogs tend to approach them without fear.

The PDSA say bites can make a dog very ill and can cause serious problems including liver, kidney and heart damage.

If venom is injected straight into the blood stream, it can also cause death very quickly.

Adder bites can be fatal to dogs (Getty Images)

To help prevent your dog being bitten by an adder, it is advised to avoid adder 'hot-spots', keep you dog on a path and on a lead.

If your dog has been bitten, the PDSA's first aid guidance advises pet owners to stay calm, try and remember what the snake looks like but don't try to find it.

You should call your vet to let them know you are on your way and carry your dog to your car for the journey.

Do you have a dog story to tell? Contact nia.dalton@reachplc.com.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.