Dog Collapses and Dies After Suspected Adder Bite Near Welsh Beach
A heartbroken dog owner from Anglesey believes her beloved pet died after being bitten by an adder, the only venomous snake native to the United Kingdom, during a walk near a popular Welsh beach. Jo Bowen-Jones, a grandmother residing in Rhosneigr, suspects her Springer-Cocker spaniel Baxter was bitten on common land adjacent to RAF Valley, close to the coastal area of Rhosneigr.
Sudden Collapse During Morning Walk
On the morning of Tuesday, 31 March, Ms Bowen-Jones and Baxter were crossing a wooden bridge over Afon Crigyll when their routine walk took a tragic turn. "I was on a track heading back to the car, not too far from the bridge, when I saw Baxter suddenly stop and lift his front paw," she recounted. "He didn't yelp and after some coaxing he came to me. But he was struggling to walk. I had to half carry him over the bridge."
Unable to transport her dog home alone, she enlisted the help of a passing campervan owner to watch over Baxter while she retrieved her vehicle. "I was only gone five minutes," she said. "But in the time I'd been away he'd vomited and pooed himself. There wasn't any swelling but I felt his paw and there was a tiny mark."
Rapid Deterioration and Veterinary Efforts
Ms Bowen-Jones immediately contacted Bodrwnsiwn Vets in Mona and, with the assistance of the campervan owner, placed Baxter into her estate car. She arrived at the veterinary practice within thirty minutes of the suspected bite. "They carried him in on a rug - there was no way he could walk," she described. "His breathing was ragged, his tummy was taut and his eyes were not good."
Veterinarians administered anti-histamines and paracetamol to Baxter and placed him on a hydration drip. While they suspected an adder bite, they opted not to administer anti-venom medication due to the associated risks. "It can cause anaphylactic shock and other side effects," Ms Bowen-Jones explained. "As Baxter's breathing was so laboured, it was decided anti-venom was too risky."
She made arrangements to collect Baxter at 6pm to transfer him to overnight care in Colwyn Bay, Conwy, as such facilities have been unavailable on Anglesey since June 2024. Tragically, she received a phone call from the vets at 5pm informing her that Baxter's condition had worsened. "His heart had stopped and, by the time I got there, he had died," she said. "I knew he was going downhill and I was losing him but it was still a shock. He was a fit and healthy five-year-old dog."
Owner Issues Public Warning on Social Media
Ms Bowen-Jones, who is over 80% certain the adder bite caused Baxter's death, has taken to social media to alert other pet owners to the potential danger. "Dog owners often associate adders with coastal dunes but this happened on grassland," she cautioned. "They can be found in any open, sunny habitat. This year they seem to have come out early. Usually they will do their best to avoid people and dogs. But early in the year, as they emerge from hibernation, they can be a little drowsy and might not be so quick to get away, so extra care is needed."
Her warning comes amid reports of an adder being sighted in the same area around the time of the incident. Despite the UK's significant dog population growth, adder bites remain relatively uncommon and fatalities are exceptionally rare. Statistics indicate that nearly all dogs bitten display symptoms, but approximately 95.4% recover with prompt veterinary intervention. Fatalities typically occur when bites go untreated and are more common among smaller dog breeds.
The loss of Baxter serves as a poignant reminder for all pet owners to remain vigilant during walks in natural habitats, especially during early spring when adders are emerging from hibernation and may be less alert.
