Two perfect little round holes in his leg half an inch apart. Warmth and swelling, quite hard feeling, for several days. A couple of weeks to calm right down. The muckheap was in his field and "adders" had been seen in it before. I understand grass snakes are more common in muckheaps, but would they bite?
yes. Swollen and sore. Hard lump formed which needed vet to drain abscess. Swelling went from elbow down to knee and along the underside of her belly. A-B's for 5 days. Slightly 'stiff' lame (does that make sense?) for about a week then recovered well with no further symptoms. Can only assume it was snake, effected area was her elbow, local vet had also had 2 other cases of snake bite that week. (happened in 2002?)
Other case was last year, weanling had very similar symptoms, hers was on her chest, which caused a pus filled lump. Again, vet thought it was a high possibility although no snakes been seen unlike some sightings of Adders in the first case.
I understand grass snakes are more common in muckheaps, but would they bite?[/QUOTE]
Grass Snakes can still bite but not not venomous their first line of defence is to Pi** on you and it smells AWFUL. A lot of Hill Sheep have goitered faces from being bitten by Adders in the heather.
Yes it died, bled to death, bitten by a gaboon viper which attacks the blood causing internal bleeding, absolutely horrific, you wont find this snake in the UK though. Hope horsey is alright.
Yes, an adder. Bit pony on sheath . Swelled up like a honey pot with loads of liquid in it. When swelled went down two dang marks. Pony luckily survived.
Not my horse, but a horse on livery at a previous yard, was bitten by an adder. Very down in herself, then the wound (two little holes on her shoulder - vet said she must have rolled on it) at first swelled then swelling went, leaving a big hole! Luckily the hole went after a few weeks but it was quite surprising! She made a full recovery; it is worth knowing which vets in your area keep anti-venom, only one local to us does.
Just wanted to update this to let you all know the horse in my OP must have been a complete drama queen. We thought he was dying/colicking/tyed up/neurological/EVERYTHING!! ... His hock was swollen like a balloon, peeing blood, collapsing. I sat with him on the way to the horsepital. By the time we'd arrived he was practically fine. It was only when they shaved leg to scan hock that the bite wounds were found. Bloods, etc, have since confirmed the snake theory. What a thing! He stayed in for observation because of the blood in wee but it didn't reoccur and possibly a red herring (might have scratched his sheath or something like that) .... They do like to scare us!