Could it have been a snake bite (adder)

[Laurac13]

Hello all
I posted recently about my horse Merlin having neurological issues which came on out of the blue and got so bad within 4 days that my vets expected him not survive longer than a week. He was put on steroids and Vit E and stabilised and then got loads better, he’s still doing well.
Farrier has been out we were chatting and he suggested it could have been a snake bite! I recently noticed what I thought were fly bites under his cheek and I asked my vets who said It Would fit with the dramatic increase in severity and the improving signs since... but she doesn’t remember any swelling or pain on his face/ mandible, and would have felt it when she palpated his lymph nodes. I don’t know when these 2 marks which I thought were fly bites appeared when he was ill I was only looking at his awful gait and muscle tremors and twitching I’ll try and post photos I’ve just opened an imgur account ? be interesting to hear your thoughts. ! Thank you

 

[rabatsa]

The only horse I know that had been bitten by an adder developed a huge swelling on his chest, think sack of feed sized swelling. Daft beggar tried to roll on it.

 

[Laurac13]

The only horse I know that had been bitten by an adder developed a huge swelling on his chest, think sack of feed sized swelling. Daft beggar tried to roll on it.

Thank you Rabatsa I think swelling is the norm poor horse That sounds like a huge amount of swelling I hope he was ok!

 

[irishdraft]

My border collie got bitten by an adder on his paw his leg swelled up it was like a tree trunk after about a week all the skin sloughed off his paw which the vet said was typical for a snake bite so whether these signs would apply to horses I don't know .

 

[HazuraJane]

Given the perspective of the thumb (?) in the picture, that would be one massive-sized snake.

 

[Laurac13]

My border collie got bitten by an adder on his paw his leg swelled up it was like a tree trunk after about a week all the skin sloughed off his paw which the vet said was typical for a snake bite so whether these signs would apply to horses I don't know .

Thanks for your comments Irish Draught merlins skin hasn’t come off

 

[Laurac13]

Given the perspective of the thumb (?) in the picture, that would be one massive-sized snake.

Thanks HazuraJane I took a better photo just now with my thumb in between the 2 scabs I think the photo with my farriers thumb in the picture gives a slightly different perspective!

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've known two horses that were thought to have been bitten by an adder, both ran high temperatures, were very sorry for themselves for a few days and had huge swellings on leg (bite site). Think they were treated with antibiotics and painkillers but not sure.

 

[Spotherisk]

My horse was bitten by an adder some years ago - vet happened to be on the yard that day and confirmed it. It was two perfectly round holes on his belly - no swelling so maybe the snake was crushed to death before expelling venom? Anyway, I kept an eye on him and there were no changes in his health, I hope your boy recovers soon.

 

[Skips11]

I had a horse bitten by an adder (he must have rolled on it in the field). His entire belly was swollen about 6 inches outwards. He could barely move and acted like he had colic. Other than that he was bright and fairly happy given the situation!

He was box rested on advice from the vet who confirmed that it was a snake bite, and after around a week the swelling went down and all of his skin went loose and sort of peeled off - it was horrible!

 

[Laurac13]

Thanks for your replies posters ? as he didn’t get swelling I suppose it maybe less likely? I suppose I may never know what happened to cause the serious neurological issues x

 

[misst]

I would also suggest that the positioning of the marks suggests a HUGE snake - lots of adders round here but none that would give bites like that. I am so happy for you that he recovered though!

 

[Laurac13]

I would also suggest that the positioning of the marks suggests a HUGE snake - lots of adders round here but none that would give bites like that. I am so happy for you that he recovered though!

Thank you Misst
Lots of adders round here too. My boy got I’ll early July just when the huge Open sided barn opposite his field was being emptied of old hay and straw bales which makes me wonder if something living in there slithered into his field ! Apparently the farm hands said they saw some snakes but no info on what they were exactly