Just for general information and to ask what  "emergency procedures" others have in place when they are out walking. A couple of days ago  I heard of my first adder bite this season.  Luckily the owner was able to get to the vet quickly and her dog is now back home. Talking to others about it made us think about having the ranger/warden's phone number stored so that help can be on its way immediately. The dog concerned was a Goldie and so couldn't be carried back to the car by one person. It had gone into shock and wasn't moving at all, which I understand was good in a way as, apparently, dogs that have been bitten by a snake should be kept as still as possible to slow down the venom from going round the body.  We also thought about having the phone number of the nearest vets  to put them on alert.  Any other ideas?  Mind you, if you are anything like me I don't always take my phone with me, so that was a wake up call.

KEEP YOUR PHONE WITH YOU :) I rarely use my mobile (hate the things) but it is vital to have one if you are out with your dogs.

I have taken to walking my lot close to home. Luckily I am surrounded fields, which is both a blessing but also a worry. I am unlikely to encounter to many other people whilst out which is fantastic unless something goes wrong! I am ever conscious that I would not be able to carry either of my dogs if anything happened. With this in mind, I have my neighbours phone numbers in my mobile and they know where my wheelbarrow is kept!

Adders are a problem around here at set times too, so care is always taken to avoid the spots where they may be sunbathing - early mornings/evenings and on sunny banks etc.

Something else worth remembering is this: many years ago now a friend of mine was walking dogs on a remote estate in the middle of nowhere. He fell and broke his leg. He thought he would be able to get help because he had his mobile with him. NO CONNECTION AVAILABLE!! Many hours later he was found by a search party who had set out to look for him and the dogs (thankfully, someone noted he and the dogs were missing and as he lived alone, this was pure luck). So the lesson is, always leave a note saying where you are going or let someone know the route(s) you normally take. Always carry a whistle - you never know what will happen and these two things might just save your life.

The dog concerned was a Goldie

This is a worry, I used to live in Cornwall and my dogs always walked in the sand dunes. I spoke to my vet about Adders and she told me that it is only serious with very small dogs and larger dogs are no worse than with a wasp or bee sting, so not to worry. ( I had a goldie and a GSD at the time) She said that in a larger dog the amount of poison from an Adder would not be very serious, so I just walked them normally without too much concern. Luckily they never got bitten, but I always assumed that the bigger dogs would not have a problem.

My friends Elkhound male was bitten when in his prime, and he was unwell but the vet said the same that it would wear off and not to do anything and the antivenom might make him worse.

Dogs an Adder Bites

After my friends Goldie almost severed a foot in a stream on broken glass she took to carrying a homemade stretcher in the car. That's ok if you walk with someone! 

I would take a phone, whistle treats and a couple of spare leads.

I keep a first aid kit in the car. Includes Piriton, which is a good first aid measure for insect bites and stings - and adders, although I have always avoided adder areas on purpose during the spring/summer.