A dog had a “golf ball-sized" lump on its chest from a suspected snake bite after emerging from the bushes on a popular walking path. Georgia Davies was walking 14-month-old springer spaniel, Ruby on the Abertridwr cycle path in Caerphilly at around 4pm on Thursday, May 25, when she suddenly noticed a large bump with blood on Ruby's chest.
Ruby was taken to the local vets where it was said the lump could have been due to a bite from an adder. The 28-year-old said: “We were walking down ‘the line’ in Abertridwr up to Senghenydd where a lot of people go to walk their dogs. Ruby is a springer spaniel and was in and out of the bushes as spaniels do. When she came out of the bushes she had a raised lump centre to her chest and we noticed that there was a slight bit of blood on there.
“We called the vet straightaway because at first we didn’t know if she had swallowed something because we couldn’t see any grazes. We took her straight to the vets and they examined her and because of the swelling – it was like a golf ball – and the bruising they then suspected that she had been bitten by an adder.”
Georgia said Ruby was then put on IV fluids and transferred to the overnight vet in Cardiff to be monitored before being transferred back to their local vets on Friday morning. She said: “Thankfully she is doing well now.” Ruby was due to go home on Friday afternoon.
Georgia added: "The vet gave her an antibiotic injection immediately as well as being put on fluids. She was transferred and she received another course of antibiotics. She' is being discharged with pain relief and oral antibiotics. This bite needs to be treated with antibiotics or it can be fatal.”
Georgia added they often take the Abertridwr walking route but have been “put off” walking Ruby in this area during the hot weather. Georgia initially shared the incident on Facebook to raise awareness of adders being in the area. She added: “I never knew before this that those snakes are out there and so close to home. So when we got told that it was a suspected adder bite it was a bit of a shock to us really.”
Adders are small and stocky snakes that prefer woodland, heathland, and moorland habitats. They hibernate from October and emerge in hot weather during the spring and summer months. It’s the only venomous snake in the UK but its venom is normally of little danger to humans. However adder bites can be severe in dogs and should be treated as an emergency. Adders are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to kill, injure, or sell them.
When dogs are bitten by adders common bite spots are on the face or the legs. You will usually notice immediate swelling and might be able to see two small puncture wounds at the centre of the bite. If the dog is allergic to the venom it could result in breathing issues. Other signs of a bite could include:
Lameness
Bleeding and bruising
Howling (in pain)
Dogs suddenly appearing very nervous
If you think your dog has been bitten by an adder you should contact your vet or take your dog to the vet immediately.
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