Adder awareness. How to help your dog?

Summer time is perfect for long hikes with your dog. When walking through forests or glades, you can meet various types of snakes, e.g. the grass snake, the smooth snake or the adder (Vipera berus). It is the latter that is dangerous. Its venom can kill an untreated animal within 5-7 days.

When a dog is suspected of being bitten by an adder, you should first of all remain calm so that the owner's emotional state does not affect the dog. You should also calm down the animal, preferably tell it to lie down. The less your dog moves, the slower the venom spreads.

You should contact your vet or local emergency services as soon as possible for instructions on what to do next. This is important because the reaction to a bite may vary depending on the area and type of viper.

If possible, transport your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic as soon as possible. Avoid excessive manipulation of the wound to avoid spreading the venom. The veterinarian will examine the dog to determine whether the animal has actually been bitten. Within half an hour to two hours, swelling will appear in the bite area. The dog may feel weak, may vomit, have diarrhea, salivate excessively or may even experience tremors.

The only way to save your dog's life is to give him the serum. This should preferably be done within 4 hours of the bite. Sometimes it is difficult to bring the serum to the clinic, so the most important thing is to provide the dog with prompt veterinary care, as time is of the essence.