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Snake Bites

Well here in the UK I guess we only have to worry about the adder, however other parts of the world have much more deadly snakes. If your like me you hate them :) in all the years I lived in the countryside I cant remember seeing a single snake, plenty of slow worms mistaken for snakes, but no grass snakes or adders. There were plenty, but I never got to see any.

The grass snake is not dangerous at all, and can be identified by the yellow markings on the back of its head. Although the Grass Snake is a sit and wait predator, it is not poisonous. Prey that comes within striking range is caught and held in the backwards-facing teeth before being swallowed whole. Research suggests that an adult Grass Snake can survive a whole year on just six or seven frogs. Grass Snakes are wary creatures and are often overlooked.

If it has a zigzag pattern then its an adder do not touch. Get away from it, leave now, remove your dog, run... (Get the message?) Contact the RSPCA to get it removed. Dogs bitten by an adder to the face or lip may go into shock. You need to get him to a vet immediately who may put him on a drip and be treated for infection and shock. Adder bites are not uncommon in this country and we often forget that we have some dangerous wildlife. About 3% of these attacks are fatal.

The Effects Of Adder Bite On Humans
Generally a bite is characterised by one or two small puncture marks and be accompanied by localised pain, in some cases can be intense. There is often a short period from 2-20 minutes prior to further symptoms. Redness and hotness of the bitten part may follow, together with swelling, and throbbing.

Swelling may be accompanied by tenderness in the armpit of the bitten arm and in the groin of the bitten leg, a rise in body temperature, giddiness, vomiting, abdominal pain drowsiness and diarrhoea. Fainting, loss of consciousness and difficulty in breathing or swallowing may be experienced, with swelling of the lips or gums.

You never new that? thought this only happened in the Amazon jungle right ? Think again !

• Casualty may experience disturbed vision.
• Casualty may feel nauseated or already be vomiting.
• One or two small puncture wounds with sharp pain and local swelling.
• Breathing may become difficult or fail altogether.
• Symptoms and signs of shock.
• Salivation and sweating may appear in advanced stages of venom reaction.
• Medical help should be sought in the event of every adder bite.

The effects of severe envenoming do not usually reach a peak until six hours after the bite, so there is enough time to get to hospital. You should go immediately to the nearest Casualty department and report as soon as possible and without waiting to see the effect of the bite. The bitten person should whenever possible avoid walking on a bitten foot or the driving of a vehicle.

And on Dogs
Although the defensive bite may use less venom than a hunting bite, the effects are dramatic. The dog's head will swell up, perhaps right back to the neck and beyond. The collar will have to be loosened. The dog will probably be very ill, and it may be temporarily paralysed or blinded. It may even die. A dog which has been bitten by an adder needs urgent treatment by a veterinary person.

Don't do a John Wayne and suck out the venom, it don't work ! and you could have even more problems, get yourself to a hospital or take your dog to a vet as quick as you can.