Earlier this week my older bitch was bitten by a snake, so I just thought I'd send this reminder to you all to keep a watch out for snakes.

Is your Bitch Ok Polly from the bite? We saw one in our garden the other day but was too quick for us to catch, from looking in Books it seems that it was a grass snake as we have lots of fields and ponds behind us. But never seen one until then, Haven't seen it since so im hoping its gone back to where it came from.

Jenna

Hi Polly, did your bitch suffer any effects from the bite?  If so what do you look out for.
I often walk mine down on the local beach and there are supposed to be grass snakes on the area, have heard a few people mention seeing them this year.
She

Don't think that Grass Snakes are a problem it is the Adders that can cause trouble. Not saying a Grass Snake will not bite but that they do not carry venom that will harm us or dogs. Belive that Adder bites need attention as soon as possible.

Edit: am talking of the UK other countries (except Eire) have their own snakes and I have know idea which snake in which country is a danger to dogs.

Thanks  Jackie, mind you I don't think I would know the difference, shall have to do a bit of research.  You never think about these things until someone brings the subject up.

Hi,
Like Jackie I can only speak with any knowledge on the snakes here in the UK, although with the pet passport it might be interesting to have some input from those living overseas.
My dog was bitten by a grass snake. Usually a grass snake will play dead to escape a potential predator, but it will bite if it thinks there is no other escape. I assume my old girl stood on it either when digging for mice or when she crouched to pee.
Grass snake bites should be treated with piriton and antibiotics, adder bites need immediate attention from a vet, so if you you know your dog has been bitten by an adder go to the vets as fast as possible.
My Rosebud was bitten on her vulva! OUCH! The first sign was a swollen look as though she was coming into season, but being spayed this was not possible. On closer examination the area was swollen and red around the bite area, but no punture wounds were visible at this point due to the amount of swelling. The piriton stops the swelling and might have to be given for a few days as the bite area irritates the dog. When the swelling went down two very visible puncture marks could be seen leaving no doubt at all what had bitten her. Antibiotics are a good idea as it covers the dog against any infection from the bite.
I had a dog which until summer of 1995, I used to show, he got bitten on his face, but I didn't notice the swelling so quickly. He got an infection in the bite and the result was his skin died back from around the area of the bite. Muck and pus seeped from under the skin for almost a month! In the end we were going back to the vets almost daily to have black dead skin cut back and he lost skin from nearly half his face, obviously not all at once but for a long time afterwards he had no hair on that side of his face, so needless to say I stopped showing him, and then never got round to going to shows with him again. He was bitten working on our little shoot, in late spring/early summer, when we were walking the deer off the crops. I don't know what type of snake bit him.
Where I live we have a lot of ponds streams, leets for mills (now vanished), and natural springs, which is grass snake heaven. We see quite lot every year. My village was a center for the duck and goose rearing trade for London. There was a disease the locals used to suffer from called "Duck Fever" this was because they used to live with their ducks in the houses and often crates of birds would kept under beds!

PS to my last message,
Rosebud is fine and totally undeterred from hunting the same area! After the last few vet visits this month my bank balance isn't though! lol She was ill, then got pyometra and now this......