The summer is slowly unfolding and more people and animals are venturing into the woods and fields.
As the days get longer and brighter, it’s tempting to head out into nature and enjoy the weather.
But there are some dangers lurking that could endanger your faithful four-legged friend’s life if you’re not careful.
Dog owner Mahri Paterson recently experienced this danger when her dog collapsed to the ground within minutes, hanging between life and death.
It was mid-April when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Mahri Paterson and her family were out with their 6-year-old dog Kaia in Glen Rosa in Arran, Scotland.
Everything seemed normal, and Kaia was happily enjoying the outdoors in nature.
However, after just 30 minutes, Kaia started feeling unwell. She went from happily exploring the trails to slowing down.
Worried, Mahri examined her beloved dog closely and discovered two bites on Kaia’s face.
The family attempted to give Kaia water, but she couldn’t handle it and suddenly collapsed to the ground.
“Urgently to the vet”
The family had seen snakes in the area but hadn’t witnessed Kaia being bitten. When they contacted the vet, it appeared highly likely that a snake had bitten Kaia.
Upon calling the vet, Mahri was informed that there was an antidote that Kaia urgently needed.
“We knew we couldn’t touch the wound and had to keep her as calm as possible, so Colin had to pick her up and carry her over a mile to the car from a couple who live on the island and offered to help. They then rushed straight to the vets waiting with the antidote she needed,” Mahri shared in a Facebook post.
Kaia spent several hours at the vet receiving infusions, antidote, and painkillers.
Now the family wants to warn others
Although Kaia is on the road to recovery, Mahri and Colin aim to raise awareness by sharing Kaia’s story so that more people understand the dangers snakes pose to our four-legged companions.
“Please educate yourself about the risks of a snake bite and what actions to take if it occurs,” the family emphasized in their post.
According to Bozita, dogs succumb to adder bites every year, even in the Netherlands. The bite can lead to symptoms such as local swelling and severe illness.
While most dogs recover, some still tragically lose their lives to snake bites in various European countries each year.
