January 2011
Molly is a beautiful young Hungarian Vizsla – the sort of dog who adores you before she’s even met you. It is quite impossible to walk past her without stopping for a cuddle! She is owned by a couple w
ho work from home and have two children between them. Molly is beautifully cared for and has had a very happy and healthy adolescence so far.
However, sometimes things happen that just cannot be predicted!
During a particularly enjoyable walk through the forests that surround Ringwood last summer, Molly let out a yelp and careered towards her owners. She was visibly shaken but initially it was difficult to gather why. Mrs S rushed Molly into the surgery where the reason for Molly’s anxiety had become alarmingly clear. Molly’s nose had nearly doubled in size and her normally delicate head and bright eyes were disguised behind what seemed like an acre of swollen cheek tissue!
When I examined Molly, her heart was racing and she was quiet and pale: quite unlike the happy-go-lucky puppy I was used to. She was clearly in shock from her experience so we placed her on an IV drip immediately. On closer inspection, 2 tiny puncture wounds were found on the tip of Molly’s nose: undoubtedly a snake bite!!
There are several treatment options for snake bites: I elected to use intravenous steroids, a potent injection very effective at reducing swelling rapidly. I was particularly concerned that the swelling may spread around Molly’s throat area and cause difficulty breathing. Molly was admitted to our hospital due to her young age and the severity of the swelling where she was carefully monitored overnight by our on-site nurse and myself.
Having left a rather sorry-looking puppy the previous evening I was overjoyed to be greeted by a perky, bouncy Molly in the morning (who no longer looked like she had taken part in a boxing match!)
