Warnings about snakes for our dogs

This was on the TV news last night and I also found this link Snake Bite Alert

We walk our dogs on a fen and though woodlands and along footpaths through fields and a couple of days ago Polly very proudly bought us a snake skin she found near one of her favourite rabbit burrows our neighbours also told us that they saw a large snake in their garden a few days ago. Please be carefull out there especially during the hot weather.

Thanks for the heads up, not something I think about here, suppose we should be

TBH unless those dogs were really irritating the snakes they wouldn't have been bitten, it's a good idea to watch out for them and just keep any dog away from them if you do see one, you won't have any problems

I agree that most of the time a dog would have to be irritating the snake but at the moment there are more about than normal due to the hot weather. Obviously some areas carry more risks than others though. Snakes will bask in the sunshine on paths and sunny places it only takes a mad dog hurtling along at top speed to tread on or startle one to get bitten.

When I am walking my 3 on the fen or footpath near our house they are usually off lead as they can run and chase balls and sticks and the occasional rabbit, so not always as calm and sedate as they might be.

My sister's partner lost his dog 2 years ago to a snake bite, she was only just over a year old and being walked through some woods where we have walked dogs for many years with no incident, they thought she had got a thorn or something in her foot, it was only the day after when the dogs paw was very swollen and they took her to their vet that they found out. The dog was put to sleep as she had massive organ failure, she was a border collie and very sweet.

Really strange to read this post because I took my dog to a different area to walk him this afternoon as I'm trying to get him used to travelling in the car (so far he has only been to the vets in the car)

We live in an area of outstanding natural beauty with wonderful walks at the bottom of our garden but today we travelled about 15 minutes by car to an open area just known as the common which Harry really enjoyed exploring. So did I until I came across a dead adder. Thank goodness it was dead. A lot of the common was fern and brush but the snake was out in the open at the top of the hill in short grass, so I imagine it had come out to bask in the sun.

Just in case anyone doesn't know, snakes also enjoy a swim and can be in water.

Sorry to read about the poor dog that was bitten.

Polly Pocket wrote:I agree that most of the time a dog would have to be irritating the snake but at the moment there are more about than normal due to the hot weather. Obviously some areas carry more risks than others though. Snakes will bask in the sunshine on paths and sunny places it only takes a mad dog hurtling along at top speed to tread on or startle one to get bitten.

When I am walking my 3 on the fen or footpath near our house they are usually off lead as they can run and chase balls and sticks and the occasional rabbit, so not always as calm and sedate as they might be.

My sister's partner lost his dog 2 years ago to a snake bite, she was only just over a year old and being walked through some woods where we have walked dogs for many years with no incident, they thought she had got a thorn or something in her foot, it was only the day after when the dogs paw was very swollen and they took her to their vet that they found out. The dog was put to sleep as she had massive organ failure, she was a border collie and very sweet.

Don't worry i no quite abit about snakes but snakes don't just 'bite' without being provoked and most cases it takes a lot of provoking. Adders aren't an aggressive species believe you me we are very lucky that they are the only native species we have of venomous snakes in this country!

I agree with keeping an eye on your dogs, but i wouldn't overly worry about it

I agree. Snake bites in this country are pretty rare, really.

Not so in Australia, I think!

Yeah over here we have some of the most highly venomous snakes.. Tiger snakes are really aggressive and poisonous.. and unfortunately where we live we gets heaps ! I have had them at the back door.. on the lawn.. sunbaking on the road outside our place...we have had a few near missed ourselves, and Jethro has come pretty close himself... I like snakes that you can pick up and handle but I HATE these tiger snakes. We are already getting worried regarding Winston .. he is so nosey.. he hears anything rustle and he has raced over to see what it is!

vanessa wrote: Yeah over here we have some of the most highly venomous snakes.. Tiger snakes are really aggressive and poisonous.. and unfortunately where we live we gets heaps ! I have had them at the back door.. on the lawn.. sunbaking on the road outside our place...we have had a few near missed ourselves, and Jethro has come pretty close himself... I like snakes that you can pick up and handle but I HATE these tiger snakes. We are already getting worried regarding Winston .. he is so nosey.. he hears anything rustle and he has raced over to see what it is!

hahaha

i read this post and thought jeez ive never heard of them, so then googled it to find out more.

i couldnt believe that they are poisonous and you have loads in your garden, then realised you are in australia not uk lol

panic over!!!

*I likes tiger snakes*.......

I DON"T like tiger snakes!! sorry Ella..

haha each to their own

There is a reptile park here and I love going there.. they have a gorgeous big snake Barney ( can't remember what type.. he is about 10 kilos ) and you are allowed to hold him.. they have allsorts of lizards and things. The reason I don't like the tiger snakes is they are really aggressive and quite a few dogs die each summer due to bites..

I don't like that they are able to kill dogs and other similar animals but i think they are amazing snakes though

Hi Guys

Not having a go at anyone just, as we all know, rumors can create fear around animals.

As well as my beautiful Staffie I keep snakes and have done for years. The risk to dogs being bitten is limited and there is only 1 species of venomous snake in the UK.

Your more likely to encounter an adder in the morning as they will be basking in the sun, by midday its too hot for them. Snakes dont like to bite as they need to concerve their venom and their more likely to be attacked if they bite first. They like to hide deep in the bush and very rarely will you encounter a snake in the open.

If a dog does get bitten all this sucking the venom our is next to useless. You want to isolate the bite and try to tournequet above it as the venom flows through the blood. Try and keep the dog calm as a accelerated blood flow accellerates the blood around the body. Obviously getting to a vet asap is the priority.

Snakes are great creatures and dont need to be fear just respected.

Cheers

Skimsa wrote:Hi Guys

Not having a go at anyone just, as we all know, rumors can create fear around animals.

As well as my beautiful Staffie I keep snakes and have done for years. The risk to dogs being bitten is limited and there is only 1 species of venomous snake in the UK.

Your more likely to encounter an adder in the morning as they will be basking in the sun, by midday its too hot for them. Snakes dont like to bite as they need to concerve their venom and their more likely to be attacked if they bite first. They like to hide deep in the bush and very rarely will you encounter a snake in the open.

If a dog does get bitten all this sucking the venom our is next to useless. You want to isolate the bite and try to tournequet above it as the venom flows through the blood. Try and keep the dog calm as a accelerated blood flow accellerates the blood around the body. Obviously getting to a vet asap is the priority.

Snakes are great creatures and dont need to be fear just respected.

Cheers

Very well said

I have also (and still do) kept snakes for years which is why i said there is no need for people to overly worry about their dog being bitten!

I know of someone here and they had a friend whose dog got bitten by a snake.... he reckons that it survived because he cut a piece of the dogs ear off and it bled and all the venom came out !! ( What the.....!! ) Now I ask you, how the hell could that help?? Poor dog.. sounds very cruel to me !! Anyone ever heard of that before...an old wives tale if I ever I heard !!

sounds like a load of * to me, best thing to do is go to the vets is it not?

I know Ella I felt sick when I heard that.. what a horrible thing to do !!

hmmmm it's abit ridiculous and awful!

What 'hot weather' and can I have some, please?

well here at the moment Steve we are in the middle of winter but in summer here it can easily get into the high 30's .. you are more than welcome to have that !! YUK !!

vanessa wrote:well here at the moment Steve we are in the middle of winter but in summer here it can easily get into the high 30's .. you are more than welcome to have that !! YUK !!

Scotland's 'summer' comprises of lots of rain and cloud, then about two days of Sun.

So, yes, I will have some of that sun, thanks.

wish I could send some over to you !!

vanessa wrote:

wish I could send some over to you !!

Ha! And in your summer, I could send you some snow -

I don't hate snakes, though I have lost two dogs to them... my best friend when I was a kid (Elmo) the JRT X Foxy (you know what they're like) lost him to a tiger snake at my grandparents place. lost our Chihuahua diesel to what we assumed was a snake because he dropped dead in the lounge room after being outside barking at 'something' for half an hour, wasn't even 2 years old.

here is a snake we found right out our back door (eastern brown)

my mum and I tried to scare it away with a mop (so dumb) and it leapt at us about a metre in the air... never heard my mum swear until then haha!

call me naive but i actually didn't think the UK had any snakes because of the cold weather! but I was wrong lol!

We have copperheads and timber rattlers in my area of the States, but dont see either very often. That said, if I see a venomous snake, it is history. I would shoot it in a heartbeat. I rather take the snake out and not have to regret my dog or 5 year old little girl being bitten after I left in alone. Yes the snake is only defending itself when agitated, but people are bitten when they step on one or pick up a board or object that the snake is resting underneath. There are plenty of non-venomous snakes (black and king snakes) here to keep the rodents away and provide eco-balance

Ti Amo Edinburgh wrote:

vanessa wrote:

wish I could send some over to you !!

Ha! And in your summer, I could send you some snow -

Yes please !!!

Ti Amo Edinburgh wrote:

Scotland's 'summer' comprises of lots of rain and cloud, then about two days of Sun.

Plus millions of midges!

vanessa wrote:

I know of someone here and they had a friend whose dog got bitten by a snake.... he reckons that it survived because he cut a piece of the dogs ear off and it bled and all the venom came out !! ( What the.....!! ) Now I ask you, how the hell could that help?? Poor dog.. sounds very cruel to me !! Anyone ever heard of that before...an old wives tale if I ever I heard !!

I'm no doctor, but I'd imagine that's actually very possible... When humans are bit by poisonous snakes, you're supposed to try to suck the venom from the wound before it spreads into the bloodstream and the rest of the body. If you can't suck out the venom, and you have the option of preventing the venom from travelling (say by cutting it off) then that could be your last chance to save the dog unless there's an antidote at the vet, and you get there in time. All speculation though. If it's true... then that owner was pretty lucky it only bit the ear.

Best bet is to relax the dog, carry it to reduce the heart pumping faster, and head to the vet. Try to identify what kind of snake as well. Current medical advice does not advocate sucking out venom. Venom enters the bloodstream very quickly (think of how fast a shot injection enters your body) and the chances of sucking venom out are slim and could do more damage by trying to do so. They do make kits to sunction venom, but they are thought to be questionable as well.

Thor wrote:Best bet is to relax the dog, carry it to reduce the heart pumping faster, and head to the vet. Try to identify what kind of snake as well. Current medical advice does not advocate sucking out venom. Venom enters the bloodstream very quickly (think of how fast a shot injection enters your body) and the chances of sucking venom out are slim and could do more damage by trying to do so. They do make kits to sunction venom, but they are thought to be questionable as well.

Hah according to this article, you are very correct. http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/snake-bite2.htm