A LISS dog had a lucky escape last week when, thanks to prompt treatment, he survived a bite on his tongue from an adder.

Toby, a six-year-old Jack Russell cross, was out walking with owner Jan Knight on the back path from Warren Road into the Longmoor enclosure.

He ran ahead to investigate what appeared to be a brown stick. But it was an adder and as Toby bent down to sniff, the snake bit his tongue.

Mrs Knight acted swiftly. She got Toby to the emergency vet as fast as she could.

James Logan at Whitehill's Lemon Grove Veterinary Surgery injected the snake bite antidote into Toby and although the dog was ill for several days he pulled through.

"His tongue and throat were badly swollen," said Mrs Knight, "and his whole head was much bigger than it should have been. He didn't eat for 24 hours, would not let me touch him and was very depressed. He obviously felt ill."

Mr Logan said: "If the bitten dog gets prompt treatment there are usually no problems but it does depend on how much venom the snake injects, how big the dog is and where it is bitten. The face and on or about the neck are the more dangerous areas.

"The comparatively warm, mild, wet winter has probably seen more young snakes surviving. From the spring through to the autumn they are often seen in the early morning and in the afternoon basking in the sun. They also breed in the spring so are likely to be more active."

Mrs Knight is not only worried about dogs that might get bitten but also walkers, particularly children.

Dr Andrew Cairns from Petersfield's Swan Surgery said, "The adder is a poisonous snake but the likelihood of fatality is small and it is unusual to die from an adder bite.

"Anyone who thinks they have been bitten by a snake should look out for the symptoms of shock developing. The best thing would be to attend the minor injuries department of the local hospital to be assessed by a member of the medical or nursing team.

"Petersfield hospital does not hold snake bite antidote so the patient, after assessment, might be recommended to attend Queen Alexandra Hospital at Cosham, but the likelihood of that is small."