(no subject)

[briarwood]

Poppy has been bitten by a snake. She must have disturbed it chasing the ball and it got her on her belly.

Thankfully we spotted it (I spotted it) quickly and Sis got her to the vet. Unfortunately, no one saw the snake, so we don't know if it was an adder. John said she didn't yelp or anything, but that just means he was busy watchig Amber. But we know there are adders living on the golflinks, which is where the dogs are walked.

Sis just got back from the vet: they've given her steroids and antibiotics but not antivenom; apparently that's a bad idea unless you're sure. So we have to keep an eye on her for the next 24 hours and zoom her back to the vet if the bite swells or if she's behaving oddly (that's nice and specific, isn't it?)

Comments

[amethystfirefly]

oh no. :( I'll keep her in my thoughts.

[briarwood]

Thanks.

She was okay last night when I turned in, but I haven't seen her since then as I have to leave for work before everyone else is up. I'm waiting for an update.

But it should be okay. Although the vet said 24 hours we should have seen symptoms quite soon if it were a poisoned bite.

[st_aurafina]

Oh, poor doggy! I don't know snakes in the UK so well, but if they decided not to use anti-venom, it sounds like they're feeling optimistic. I hope she is doing fine and showing no signs of ill health.

[briarwood]

She seems fine today; Sis finally updated me. *much relief*

We have only two native snakes in the UK and only one of those is venomous: the adder. Its bite isn't deadly to humans, at least not adults, but it can be with small animals and Poppy isn't very big (she's half chihuahua). But we'd know for sure by now if she'd got a venomous bite. Obviously it's still nasty - there's a risk of infection with any bite - but she seems to be doing well.