20/05/2026
Hopefully this doesn’t happen to your dog but worth knowing if it ever did
🆘 🆘 PLEASE SHARE FOR INFORMATION 🆘 🆘
⚠️ Important warning for dog owners walking in heathland, moorland and woodland areas ⚠️
Today we received a call from one of our incredible adopters, we will call him “Andy”, after his VERY breed dog was bitten by an adder.
What followed was every dog owner’s nightmare.
Knowing movement can help venom spread more quickly around the body, Andy carried his dog almost TWO MILES back to his car to try and keep her as still as possible. He then drove from vet to vet desperately trying to find anti-venom treatment. Three veterinary practices sadly didn’t have it available, but thankfully the fourth did.
Luckily this was a bite from a baby adder. Had it been an adult, the outcome could have been very different.
She is currently very lethargic, sore and feeling very sorry for herself, but thankfully she is expected to make a full recovery. ❤️
We don’t want to scare people, but we do want people to be aware. Adders are most commonly found in heathland, moorland, woodland and rough grassy areas, particularly when basking in the sun during mornings and afternoons.
Please stay vigilant when walking your dogs, especially during warmer weather. It may also be worth checking which vets in your local area — or areas you holiday in — stock anti-venom, because in an emergency every second counts.
Andy, from all of us at Pawtopia… thank you.
Your quick thinking, determination and knowledge undoubtedly saved your beautiful girl’s life. Carrying a giant breed dog for two miles is something most people physically couldn’t do, yet you did it without hesitation. We are so proud and honoured to have you as part of the Pawtopia family. You are one of the good ones — an incredible human being and exactly the kind of owner every rescue dog deserves. ❤️
📚 PDSA advice about adders:
There are three species of snake in the UK: grass snakes, smooth snakes and adders. The adder is the UK’s only venomous snake.
Adders generally avoid humans and dogs and usually only bite if startled or frightened. Unfortunately, curious dogs often approach them without fear.
Symptoms of an adder bite can include:
• Sudden pain and swelling around the bite
• Lethargy and weakness
• Limping
• Bruising
• Breathing difficulties if bitten around the face or neck
In severe cases, venom can affect the liver, kidneys, heart and nervous system, and sadly some bites can be fatal.
🚨 Any suspected adder bite should always be treated as an emergency and seen by a vet immediately. The faster treatment is started, the better the outcome.
