K9-1-1

We had our first warm spring day yesterday, and even saw the sun come out for a few hours. Not one to take a nice day for granted, I piled all the not pregnant dogs into the truck and we drove into the middle of estate for a good run, swim, and hunt through cover. I didn't think about what else the good weather might bring out of hibernation.

Snakes.

Venomous snakes.

I bet you see where this is going.

We only have one species of venomous snake in Britain: the adder. They're not uncommon on the estate, but you'd have to be rather unlucky to stumble across one, and even unluckier to get this fairly docile snake to bite you.

It was Dulcie who found the snake. She must have accidentally trod on it. I never heard her yelp, and the first I knew of a problem was loading her into the truck after our walk. Her front leg was swelling rapidly. I couldn't find a puncture wound but I was pretty sure of the cause. I called the vets and told them to expect us. Again. With an injured Dulcie. Again.

So Dulcie spent the afternoon at the vets on an IV drip of fluids, antihistamines, and antibiotics. Her leg looks better this morning after treatment, but it's still twice normal size right up to the shoulder and bruised from the venom's effects on tissue.

I probably don't have to tell you which is the affected leg.

We popped back to the vets this morning and her temperature is still slightly elevated, so we'll bring her back for another check in 48 hours. As long as she's eating, drinking, and feel OK in herself, I think she's out of the woods. Which is great because 'in the woods' is where all the adders live.

With working dogs more so than pets, accidents and injuries are to be expected. I'm so grateful that we have such amazing veterinary surgeons only five miles from the estate. With Podgelets still to come, there's a better-than-average chance that we'll be visiting them again soon.