Recently, I experienced this firsthand when my dog Luna was bitten by a viper during our morning walk. This experience was frightening, and when sharing it later, many people had a lot of questions, which is why I will describe our experience in more detail in this article and share the collected information that hopefully no reader will ever need, but which provides an overview of what to do in such a situation.
My experience with Luna
It was a sunny Saturday morning, and we went for a walk and play at our favorite beach with Luna. The beach is accessible through a lovely thicket, where there is a small path that leads directly to the beach. As we left, we heard movement in the bushes, but my first thought was that it was probably birds. Luna curiously went to sniff, and a moment later, she jumped back but continued walking as if nothing had happened. I checked the bushes but didn’t see anything alarming, so we moved on towards the car.
We drove away from the beach, and about 20 minutes later, when we reached the parking lot, we noticed that Luna's face and nose were severely swollen. We rushed to the nearest animal emergency clinic, still thinking and hoping that it might just be a bee sting... The veterinarian quickly determined that the swelling was due to a viper bite. Given Luna's small size, it was said that quick action was critical, as viper bites can be fatal, and unfortunately, such situations often occur in the work of veterinarians. Luna was kept under observation for six hours and received the necessary treatment. Fortunately, thanks to the quick response, Luna recovered well. The veterinarian advised us to monitor her behavior in the following days, such as changes in appetite and drinking, and to return if necessary.
General recommendations for dog owners:
- The experience of most dog owners indicates that when a dog is bitten by a viper, there is usually no sound or behavior that indicates it was a viper, which is why it is important to be attentive to the dog's behavior when moving in areas where vipers may be present. If there is a situation where it seems that something might have happened, check the area just in case to see if you notice any movement.
- Check if you see any swelling, puncture wounds, or signs of pain or anxiety in the dog's behavior. Depending on the amount of venom, extensive and very painful swelling may occur in the bite area within 30 minutes.
- Write down the phone numbers, addresses, and opening hours of the nearest clinics on your phone and, if possible, in your car. If you are in a panic and need to find information quickly, this adds stress to an already tense situation, and it is much easier if you already know where to call and where to go. If possible, call the clinic in advance to ensure they are open and can accommodate you.
- Limit the dog's movement, as this slows the spread of venom in the dog's body. Also, do not scratch or massage the dog, as otherwise, the venom will spread more quickly in the dog's body.
- Do not try to squeeze out the venom. Also, do not use a tourniquet, bandages, gels, patches, powders, or anything similar. Do not place ice on the bite site.
- Do not wash the bite area.
- You can give the dog an appropriate pain reliever and water.
The enzymes contained in viper venom can cause swelling, coagulopathy, bleeding, localized tissue necrosis, drop in blood pressure, arrhythmias, hyperosmolarity, release of heparin, histamine, and vasoactive substances, as well as renal tubular necrosis and pulmonary edema due to increased vascular permeability.
Unfortunately, we do not have an antidote for viper venom, which is why veterinarians can only provide supportive treatment if necessary, such as fluid therapy, anti-inflammatory, and pain relief, but often these measures and quick action are what saves the dog's life and helps prevent later complications.
It is important to know that vipers can also inhabit urban areas. For example, there have been cases of viper bites in Mustamäe, Tallinn. If you know that there are vipers in your area, keep your dog on a leash and away from thick bushes or rocks where snakes may hide. In spring and early summer, young vipers are active, who are bolder and may bite without feeling much danger.