AFTER a sunny bank holiday weekend I think it is safe to talk about the weather improving without jinxing it.

The good weather brings with it added hazards for our pets, and one of the most worrying is adder bites.

We live in an adder-prone part of the country and every summer we see cases of dogs bitten by adders.

We have not yet had our first bite of the season but I have had two owners report that their dogs have disturbed adders out on walks.

A colleague in a neighbouring practice has treated her first adder bite, which was a very nasty one. It appears the venom is very potent at this time of year.

We always keep anti-venom here at the surgery, which we need to give as soon as possible to a dog that has been bitten as well as supportive therapy involving intravenous fluids, anti-inflammatories and close monitoring.

If your dog is bitten, get them to the surgery as quickly and as calmly as possible.

How would you know if it was an adder that bit your dog? If you see the snake itself they have a distinctive diamond pattern on their backs. If you hear your dog yelp and rapidly reverse out of the undergrowth, you may see bite marks on their foot or nose or a rapidly swelling area – contact your vet straight away.