A woman from Cheltenham is urging dog owners to be vigilant after her Jack Russell died from an adder bite during a walk in the Cotswolds. Claire Young, 40, was walking in Barber Woods near Coberley on Tuesday afternoon when her dog, Mouse, was bitten on the neck by the UK's only venomous snake.
Despite rushing Mouse to a vet, Ms Young was told that because the dog was so small and the bite was on its neck, anti-venom would not have been effective. Mouse died within half an hour of the attack. Ms Young described hearing the dog scream and then seeing the adder in front of her.
Ms Young said she had called five veterinary practices before finding one with anti-venom, but it was ultimately futile. She hopes her warning will prevent similar tragedies. The RSPCA advises seeking urgent veterinary care if a snake bite is suspected, and emphasises that adders are shy and should be observed from a distance.
