Not a question, but dog walkers please be careful

[Illyria54]

My Border Collie was bitten on his lip by an Adder yesterday, his face ballooned to about 3 times it's normal size almost immediately after he was bitten, the vet said we got him to his surgery just in time, Harvey (my dog) was on a drip and given anti venom, we have to keep him quiet for another 5 days, his face isn't quite so swollen this morning, hopefully he will recover fully. My vet said that at the moment they are getting at least 2 dogs each week with snake bites. I also found out that anti venom can only be given once in the dogs lifetime. Please be careful while out with your dogs, apparently there are more Adders about this year than ever before.

[divegirl]

Hi Illyria, an excellent and timely warning, as the weather warms up [again] our little legless friends do become more active! Hope Harvey is feeling better soon. xXx.....

Lisa x

[Illyria54]

He is still pretty 'droopy' from the sedative the vet gave him, it won't be easy trying to keep him quiet for 5 days though, he is a very 'on the go' dog, my other dogs have all come out in sympathy with him and look just as 'droopy',........ attention seekers!

[leelapops]

Hey Illyria, thank you for the warning. I hope Harvey is better soon! Give him a (gentle!) cuddle from me. And what drama queens the rest of your woofers are!

Lisa x

[lankeela]

Hope Harvey soon recovers fully. My friend's Rough Collie was bitten on the leg last year, and it was touch and go, although they got him to the vets straight away and got him on a drip. He recovered although it was a long time before they knew whether the leg would be ok. At the same time another dog was brought into the vets which sadly did not make it, as the owners had taken him home and didn't realise what was making him unwell.

Thanks for the reminder, where I live there are lots of sandy foresty tracks which is the sort of environment they love.

[Illyria54]

Harvey is a little better this afternoon, he has managed to eat something and is drinking well, we were on the local heath when it happened, we had just called the dogs in to put their leads back on and Harvey put his nose down in the grass (just off a sandy track)yelped and jumped back 6 feet! his face ballooned almost immediately, we were at the emergency vets within 15 minutes, (good job there were no police about)! We have to be so alert this time of year, these things happen so quickly. I know I will have to watch him for a while yet, I know someone whose dog got through the initial treatment then collapsed and died 2 weeks later, Harvey is only 18 months old and generally in very good health so he has that on his side.

[Illyria54]

I was walking on heathland near my home in Surrey.

[Illyria54]

We were walking on heathland near our home in Surrey.

[lankeela]

Hope he continues to improve. The Rough Collie was bitten whilst walking in Thetford Forest in Norfolk, but we have a lot of sandy heathland in the Breckland area.

[gelda]

Where in Surrey was this?

[Illyria54]

I was on Thursley common.
I know Thetford forest really well lankeela I used to have family living on the Norwich rd. It's lovely countryside.

Harvey is much better this morning, is fed up at not being allowed to go for his usual run this morning, how do you keep a Border Collie quiet for heavens sake!