27/04/2026
🐍 ☀️ As the weather seems to be heating up, now seems to be a good time to mention adders! 🐍
So let’s talk facts about adders and what you should and shouldn’t do if your dog was to be bitten by an adder
Facts:
Adders are often seen early spring/summer time. They enjoy basking in sunny spots, often in heathland, woodland and moors.
Adders will only bite in self defence, and are otherwise not aggressive. They only use their venom as last resort.
Adders protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; it is an offence to harm, injure or kill them.
They have a black/brown zigzag pattern down their back, so easily distinguished from a grass snake which is mostly brown with a yellow band of colour around its neck.
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Here are a few tips that could help you in an emergency, should your pet be faced with an adder bite.
How to spot an adder bite on your pet:
The most common places to be bitten are lower limbs and the face. Quite often your pet may react and swell significantly, fairly quickly in the area it was bitten due to the allergic reaction to the venom.
You may also notice:
🔶Bleeding, oozing
🔶Visible wounds
🔶Howling and nervousness
🔶Bruising
🔶Lameness
🔶(If bitten on the face) they may start to have trouble breathing
Symptoms vary and they can be more severe.
If your pet has been bitten by an adder >
🔹Do:
Ring the vets immediately and get your dog down to the closest vets as soon as possible. (Drive to a vets, rather than walk the dog there)
Carry your dog if possible to prevent the venom circulating around the body quicker.
Keeping your dog as calm as possible can also help prevent the venom spreading as quickly.
(If access to water) bathe the area with cold water to prevent swelling
🔹Do not:
Apply pressure/bandage material or a tourniquet to the wound
Try any first aid yourself. This may cause more harm than good
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Dogs who have suffered an adder bite require immediate treatment, and are usually given pain relief, intravenous fluids to support their circulation and tissue perfusion, medicines to reduce the body's reaction to the venom such as antihistamines, and other medicines as required. In some cases an antivenom is given.
Please call your local practice if you have seen that your dog has been bitten or you suspect that your dog might’ve. If you are not near your local vet at all however, it is sensible to seek emergency care at the most local practice to you at that time.
PS> we’ve recently had a case in which a cat had brought an adder into the house! 😱 thankfully the cat was not bitten, but if living near heathland or less residential areas, then the risk can also be as dangerous to cats too!
