Northumberland pet owners warned after dog bitten by adder

Ozzie, a five-month-old puppy, was treated at the Hexham branch of the practice Orchard House Vets, which has branches in Stocksfield and Bellingham and is one of the county's only anti-venom stockists. 

Ozzie's owners, Jackie Collins, 67, and her husband, Stuart Mason, 54, were visiting Fourstones with their two German Shepherds, Freya and Ozzie, for a holiday.

Jackie and Ozzie, three days after he was bitten on the face (Image: Supplied)

They were walking at Bakethin Weir in Kielder Water and Forest Park on June 20 when he was bitten.

Jackie said: "The two dogs ran out in front of us as they saw the water and were very excited, and then there was a huge yelp from one of them. Stuart went towards where the dogs were and noticed the puppy, Ozzie, had backed off."

(L-R) Freya and Ozzie (Image: Supplied)

"Stuart noticed two snakes, one was sliding away and one was stationery sunning itself. We weren't sure what kind of snakes they were, because I've never seen a live snake in this country, but I said thought it was an adder.

"We decided to check what the process was and how venomous adders were, but we couldn't get a phone signal. We realised it was Ozzie that had been bitten because his face was swelling up substantially and he was drooling."

The couple got a signal while driving and rang Orchard House Vets in Bellingham. The branch was closed so they were told to go to the Hexham practice.

Ozzie's face swelled up within 10 minutes after he was bitten (Image: Orchard House Vets)

"By that time, Ozzie was really going downhill and it was about an hour's drive to Hexham, the vets said get there within two hours if possible."

Stuart and German Shepherd puppy Ozzie (Image: Supplied)

"By the time we got him to the vet, we couldn't touch him, the venom was coursing through his veins and he was in agony.

"It was truly horrible. What made it worse was that we couldn't get the phone signal to get the information we needed. We were quite frightened."

She added Orchard House Vets did a 'splendid job' in treating Ozzie.

Jackie advised pet owners to research adder bite treatment and save contact details of vets in the surrounding area.

A spokesperson from Orchard House Vets said: "It is important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible if you suspect your pet has been bitten by an adder. Keeping their heart rate down and keeping them as calm as possible is also important. Symptoms do get gradually worse and left untreated can become very serious, and even fatal."

For more information, go to Orchard House Vets website.