We are taking the dogs to Cornwall in Sept , we are staying near the towans by the beach near St Ives. I have just been told by a relative who lives in Carbis Bay that the dunes are full of snakes and that near enough every week a dog is bitten they know this because it  makes the local papers.

I am now worried about my dogs...of course we will give the dunes a miss and keep them on leads as much as possible. I know snakes exist more in some areas of the country ..we dont see them in the Northwest often .

My question is for people who live in that area .
1)how do you cope ...are they more common certain times of the year?

and more importantly
2) what do I do if my dog is bitten??

Roni

You are less likely to see adders in September as it isn't usually warm enough for them.  Spring is a good time to see them sunbathing.  We saw one on Dartmoor recently, the first one I've seen in years and years of dog walking - they are so good at making themselves scarce.  There is a good site with simple advice here.  If you have a look at the habits of adders you'll know what areas to avoid and what to look for.  Please remember that disturbing any of our UK species of snake is an offence - although try telling that to your dog :)

If you are very worried then call a local vet in advance - ask them what experience they have with treating adder bites and keep their address and tel number handy whilst you are away.  Ask your own vets views too but carrying Piriton is often a good idea and recommended for any bite or sting.  Have a nice holiday

Well as the name suggests In live in Cornwall and there are a fair amount of adders in these parts.Even to the extent of having a nest in our hedge behind several bales of hay a few years ago.We still see them and our cat even dropped on on our door step.Early evening is one of the worst times as they are out basking.When its cooler they are not so active.Moorland is an area rife as well so I would alway keep a dog on a lead and as mentioned carry piriton.Notr a cure but it will buy you time to get to a vet.Anti venom is sometimes in short supply down here and I have known of people having problems getting hold of it from their vets.Also know were there is a vet in the locality you are staying or visiting.
Have a great time.

just rang a vet in the area we are staying ..apparently its true reactions can vary from an antibiotic jab to having to be kept in on a drip ..all depends on how individual dogs react to the bite.
I have thier phone number and address so will have to keep it handy ..better safe than sorry.

yes we have a fair few in the dunes here, just avoid them is my advise

thats my plan !

I used to live in north Cornwall opposite the beach. All our walks were through the dunes every day of the year. I asked our vet about the snakes and he said it depends on the size of the dog. As mine were GSDs he felt it would be no more than a wasp sting for a dog of this size but suggested having emergency Piriton just in case. We didn't have a single bite in over 8 years or maybe we were just lucky

I was told by a gundog trainer that he keeps priton on him and if one of his dogs gets bitten he give them a tablet and that stops the swelling round the mouth because most of the time they get bitten on the face because of sniffing in the grass and disturbing the snake then obviously take the dog straight to the vets. If you can carry the dog do so or put it on a lead and a steady walk back to the car. He said his vet doesn't use anti-venom as dogs react badly to that as well and they give a 3day course of antihistamine injections.

Someone at our training class had both his cockers bitten by a nest of adders in sand dunes in Norfolk a few years ago. One of the cockers nearly died :(

Daisy

I live in devon but do alot of training in cornwall. The piriton is ideal. As people say it depends on the dogs size as well. I'd phone the vet when you arrive and discuss it with him so he's aware of the potential need for anti venomen/other treatment. Also of course just play with the dogs by the water in the evening or take them elsewhere instead of the dunes.

Btw in the states they train dogs to avoid snakes (rattlers far more dangerouse than adders) I have on occasion considered offering this service but it would require me to own a snake which is a little off putting lol.

Adam

I live in Cornwall, and to be honest do not often see snakes, have seen a couple of grass snakes and plenty of slow-worms, never seen an adder yet, my daughter walks her dogs on the north Cornish beaches, she has never mentioned seeing any snakes.

Possibly there may be pockets of them in certain areas.

I would speak to the vet in the area where you are going, he would be aware of any local problems with snakes.

hi, i live in cornwall and i have never seen one,yes i have heard occasionally of them in the dunes, but to be honest, i would just avoid those areas,there are so many lovely places here to walk your dogs you dont need to walk there,and well done for being prepared by calling the vet, another tip is  if you do walk along the cliffs, please please please keep your dogs on leads at all times, there has been cases of dogs falling off the cliffs etc and it breaks my heart to hear it
jo

Adders can be more dangerous to dogs when it's cooler!
We have loads in our area (not Cornwall), and for many years I thought it was best to walk Olive in the woods on cooler days until I was told that they are more likely to strike when it's cooler because they feel more vunerable/sluggish.
They like heathland, sandy areas too.

The thought of snakes terrifies me and do have an big fobia about them.This thread has sent shivers down my spine and I will have to walk the dogs now in full body armour instead of shorts !

Aarea to watch out for is around the Goss moor area in mid Cornwall - seem to get moor Adders on moorland which is where my home backs on to.When they rebuilt the A30,making it into a dual carriageway,all the adders in that area were gathered and relocated,They then turned this area into a cycle/foot path and nature area for the public.Great in late autumn winter and early spring but a snakes haven in the warm summer.

Yes as Joanne 1000 so rightly says, be careful when walking your dogs on the cliffs - we hear about a few dogs going over the top!!!!

We walk daily on Dartmoor....but are staying clear at the moment because of the dogs putting their noses where they shouldnt.
When walking on the moors last year on a small pathway...I stepped over something without realising what it was untill my hubby said just keep walking and it was a adder,it looked just like an old bike tyre lying there with those markings....the dogs also must have gone over it as only small path.
Count ourselfs lucky none of us was bitten.
I also carry piriton in the car just in case there is a problem.

We have just returned from cornwall last week and didnt see or hear any reports about snakes...thats not to say they are not there....we just didnt see them.
Dont let it spoil your hols....cornwalls a lovely place.

We have been to Cornwall many times over the years in fact we have travelled the whole country but never come across snakes , my dogs are never allowed to roam off lead in a strange place so no worries re- cliff tops although good point for those who may not have considered this fact.

I have as said in my earlier post contacted a vet who is close to the area we are staying she gave me some good advice , I am not going to dwell on this , but  I do like to be prepared for any event.

thanks everyone for thier input ...very welcome

Roni

Now raining down here today ....so  no snakes :)

We live in that area and unless you are you are actively looking for them you are unlikely to see them, they are a shy retiring creature and tend to disappear quickly if they 'feel' your foot fall.

We don't even think about them, if you try and avoid all dangers then you're not going to be doing much else.

One of ours has been bitten, we didn't realise until some hours later when she collapsed, unusually she was struck on the shoulder so there was no swelling to indicate she been struck.

Contrary to popular belief hot days aren't the most dangerous, spring time is most dangerous when they first come out of hibernation, the venom is concentrated then and more potent, also Adders are a temperate snake so are adapted to cooler temperatures, they actually avoid the hottest part of the day and tend to do their basking mornings and evenings when the sun isn't so hot.

If you're dog is bitten you should ring the nearest vet straight away and warn them you're on your way, carry your dog and try and avoid your dog becoming excited and raising their heart beat.

My vets advice is never give any drug such as piriton, it's unlikely to have any real effect and may compromise the drugs the vet needs to give, the key is to get to the vets quickly and safely so medication can be started as soon as possible.

Thank you Robert all my questions replied to in one fell swoop ..much obliged

Roni

Yikes, we are going to Cornwall next year, I shall take note of this!

I wouldn't be too worried - I've been to Cornwall in the summer quite a few times, with and without dogs, and walked the coastal path and moorland without ever seeing a snake of any sort.

one rarely sees them....thats the problem. :( they like to keep out of the way but a careless nose or clumsy foot is usually the target for a strike, and depending on bite location and dog size, it can be fatal. I know of many adder bites and in only one case was the snake actually seen!

I wouldn't normally but my fear of snakes for me never mind the girls is very real.

but a careless nose or clumsy foot is usually the target for a strike

To me that is terrifying :-)

You have to put it in perspective.

Most people are on holiday for two weeks, we live here right through the spring summer, and autumn when snakes are about, we have three springers, an eight year old and two five year old, we walk through the downs at least once a day, often twice a day, sometimes three times a day, in all that time I've seen a snake once when walking the dogs and one has been bitten, if you do the maths on that that's a lot of hours, days weeks, months even walking in what some would say is a snake minefield, multiply that by all the people who live in our village with dogs and all that time I have heard of only one other dog being bitten.

Mind you I have read lots of times on forums of dogs being bitten in this area, but never actually seen or heard of them on the village jungle drums.

If you are so worried then keeping dogs on lead in gorse, near water and around the edges of sand dunes negates the risk.

Good information everyone, will try to remember the advice just in case the worst should happen.

My two disturbed a nest of wasps the other day, now that was SCARY!!!! Walking dogs all the way home not knowing how badly they had been stung was very stressfull I can tell you.

I guess we can only protect them the best we can. I agree they should only be off lead if we know there is no potential risk such as clifftops etc, but with things like wasps & snakes I'd say it may never happen... best to know what to do if it does though.