A Staffie had its leg amputated after being bitten by a snake in a country park near East Kilbride
One-year-old Stella was bitten by an adder while being walked near a stream in Calderglen Country Park on Thursday, June 22.
The pup was rushed to the vet hospital four days later where the decision was made to amputate her hind leg.
The adder is Scotland's only venomous snake and while bites are rare, medical help should be sought immediately.
Stella's dog walker, who runs her business Awwz & Pawz, heard Stella yelp out while she was being walked with other dogs but initially thought the bite was just a small cut.
She said: "We were walking a route which I've done hundreds of times. She was a bit away from me. When she was bitten that's when I ended the walk.
"She had what looked like a cut on her paw. I washed it out when I saw it and hoped it wouldn't be too painful.
"Stella's owner took her to the vet and she was given antibiotics but the wound began to look infected and was causing her a lot of pain. She was receiving veterinary treatment up until she was rushed to hospital, she was seen about three times.
"Over the weekend Stella had lost function in her paw and the vet decided they would have to amputate her leg.
"After they amputated they could see the wound from the inside and the vet confirmed it was a snake bite.
"The flesh on the paw was rotting away, it was horrific."
Stella is now recovering at home after her operation and will have physio to learn to walk with three legs.
The dog walker, who also runs a grooming business, shared pictures of Stella's wound on Facebook in a warning to pet owners.
She wrote: "[The vet] said that more adder bite cases have been brought in so please be aware and avoid places they might be especially after they come out of hibernation from early Spring to August. The warm dry weather is preferable for them so that may be why they have been out more, so be especially more vigilant and cautious on the nice summer days."
An SSPCA spokesperson said: "Adders tend to keep themselves to themselves and don't bite unless they are scared, unfortunately, dogs tend to approach them without fear, startle them and get bitten.
"If the venom stays in the tissues around the bite, it will cause pain and swelling, but if it spreads further and gets into the bloodstream, it can cause much more serious problems such as damage to the liver, kidneys, heart and nervous system.
"If venom is injected straight into the blood stream, it can cause death very quickly. It can also be very serious if your dog is bitten on the face or neck because swelling can lead to breathing problems."
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