A seven-month-old golden retriever has defied vets and survived five operations after being bitten by an adder in Aberystwyth, west Wales.
Kobi had been walking through long grass on a walk with his owner Roma Morgan when he suddenly became "very lethargic". Roma rushed him to her local vets, where he had blood tests and painkillers, but his condition did not improve and he cried when touched.
Bite discovered after swollen neck shaved
It was only when vets shaved Kobi's swollen neck that a traumatic puncture wound was found. He was then taken to another vet for a second opinion and given anti-venom.
Over the next 10 months, the puppy endured five separate operations and 90 wound dressing changes. The treatment cost more than £8,000.
'Our little hero'
Roma, of Penparcau, near Aberystwyth, said she and husband Steve are "forever grateful" to the vets who "gave him the care he needed". She added: "It was best feeling. Seeing him running and swimming makes it all worthwhile. He's our little hero." She is now warning other dog owners about the dangers of adder bites.
Fundraising appeal and adder warning
Friends began a fundraising page to help Roma and Steve pay for Kobi's treatment in June last year. The page read: "Kobi, just a curious baby golden retriever, whilst playing in the river was bitten by an adder. He didn't make a fuss, and nobody witnessed it."
"He became very poorly, very quickly, and eventually it was realised that he'd been bitten by a venomous snake. It was already at advanced stages in his system by this time."
"A long, heartbreaking fight to save Kobi began from that moment. Roma and her husband Steve sourced anti venom and drove away to collect it."
"The veterinarians began the slow process of fixing their boy, bearing in mind that he would not suffer more than he needed to. It was feared that his organs would fail, but he pulled through with intensive care."
"His skin perished and he has bravely endured multiple surgeries which will continue until all the fluid build ups are cleared and his skin is healed. He is a champion, he survived on love."
Adders are the only venomous snake native to the UK and are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Vet warning on potentially fatal stomach condition
Last month, a vet warned dog owners to bring their pets into their local practice immediately if they notice one change in their body, as it could be fatal.
In a TikTok video, vets at Green Pastures Vets in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, weighed in on whether a dog shaking for no obvious reason is an emergency. One vet asked: "Kathleen, emergency or not, a dog shaking for no obvious reason?" Kathleen replied: "Yes, they could be fitting, always better to just be sure."
According to the PDSA, a dog suffering from GDV (Gastric dilatation-volvulus) will likely require surgery to untwist their stomach, but even with intervention some GDVs prove fatal.
The PDSA said: "Any dog can develop a GDV but it's most common in giant and deep chested breeds such as as German Shepherds, Great Danes, Saint Bernards and Dobermanns."
"It's more common in dogs that have a parent or full sibling (brother/sister) that have had a GDV, and tends to mostly affect middle-aged to older dogs."
