Search dog needed transfusions of blood
A ‘trainee’ search and rescue dog who almost died after being bitten by a snake is making a remarkable recovery.
Springer Spaniel Tara was given two blood transfusions after being bitten on the face by an adder, the only venomous snake native to the UK, while out and about at Aberfoyle Golf Club.
The 18-month-old spent two days fighting for her life in a small animals hospital in Glasgow after the distressing incident last Thursday (July 13). She was released on Saturday after bravely battling to recovery.
Tara, who is now recuperating at home, is keen to follow in the footsteps of her mum Tess, who is an urban search and rescue dog with Trossachs Search and Rescue team.
And Stuart Ballantyne, Trossachs SAR chairman, explained that owner Stevie Coombes acted quickly to save Tara when he realised something wasn’t quite right.
He said: “As soon as Stevie got
her home he saw that her face was swollen and she was lethargic. He knew she had been bitten, so he contacted the vet and went straight there.
“When they arrived at Struthers and Scott Vets in Doune, they administered anti-venom and told him they needed to go to the vet hospital in Glasgow.
“She then had a blood transfusion, but her condition began to deteriorate, so she needed another one. There was one point I think Stevie wasn’t too sure if she would make it.
“But she began to pick up and pretty much a day later they were able to pick her up — and she slept all the way home.”
Tara returned to the vet yesterday (Thursday) for a check-up to make sure her recovery was on-track.
Stuart explained that she has joined Tess on a number of training exercises and hopes to follow in her mum’s paw prints and become a search and rescue dog herself in the future.
Jill Conaghan from Struthers and Scott Vets, who provided emergency care to Tara, said that they have only seen two instances of dogs being bitten by adders in the area this year — and they both happened on the same day.
She told the Observer: “This sort of thing tends to happen during the summer and we’ve had two so far this year, on the same day. Both dogs are doing well now.
“There are quite a lot of adders in this area — and at places like golf courses. They like to hide in the undergrowth. We would say to dog owners just to be extra careful when in these areas.
“If your pet has been bitten, sometimes you will see a puncture wound, swelling, redness and they will be in pain. They may also be lethargic, their pupils may be dilated and they can vomit.
“It might be difficult as an owner but it’s important to remain calm, and contact a vet immediately. Try not to let them walk as it could spread the venom around their system.
“If you see an adder, leave it alone and move away slowly. They tend to keep themselves to themselves but dogs are more inquisitive and they like to test the waters. That’s when they can be bitten.”
Keith Graham, who writes the Stirling Observer Country View column, is not aware of any increase in the amount of venomous snakes in the area.
He said: “There have always been adders in the Trossachs area, and particularly around Aberfoyle. The conditions are perfect for them there as there’s a lot of cover.
“I’m not aware of any increase in the amount there are. There’s a very small chance of a human being bitten as they are naturally scared of people, but dogs are perhaps more at risk if they are running through vegetation. They are also probably more at risk from the venom too as they are smaller.
“It’s good to hear that the dog is doing much better now.”
The Observer reported last year that a four-year-old Whippet died after being bitten by a snake, most likely an adder, in the garden of a house in St Ninians.