Adder bite in dogs
Abstract
The European adder is not aggressive and only bites when provoked. Local effects include localised painful swelling often occurring within minutes of the bite. There may also be systemic effects with mental status changes and sometimes shock, coagulopathy, renal, hepatic or cardiac effects. Adder antivenom if indicated, depending on severity and location of the bite, is the most specific treatment and is expected to reduce morbidity with rapid improvement of swelling and reduce hospitalisation time. Other treatment is supportive with analgesia, intravenous fluids and antihistamines. Adder envenomation causes significant morbidity but low mortality.
The European adder, Vipera berus is the only venomous snake native to the UK. It is also found across northern Europe, into the Arctic Circle, and Asia. It is most commonly found on dry, sandy heaths, sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorlands and woodland edges. In the UK the snake is a protected species and it is illegal to intentionally kill or injure an adder; it is also illegal to sell or transport adders for sale (Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981).
The European adder grows to about 50–60 cm in length and can vary in colour from pale grey to dark brown in the male and from olive green/yellowish-brown to reddish-brown in the female. It is distinguishable from the two other snakes native to Britain, the grass snake (Natrix natrix) and the rarer smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), by a black-brown dorsal zig-zag patterning and a V-shaped marking on the head (Figure 1). Note, however, that in darker coloured male snakes this patterning may not be obvious. Another distinguishing feature is the eye of the adder that is elliptical with a typical vertical slit as compared with the round shaped eyes of the grass and smooth snakes (Figure 2).
Two adders in their natural habitat showing the characteristic zigzag pattern along their back.
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