A dog owner has issued a heartfelt warning to others after her four-year-old pet suffered a fatal snake bit earlier this week.

Charlie Hailstone was out for a walk around The Vyne in Sherborne St John on Monday, alongside her daughter and dog Ruby.

Ruby was off her lead and having a "sniff and an explore" when suddenly they heard something.

"We heard this god awful noise," Charlie told the Gazette.

"We were on the path, not far from where she was and suddenly she appeared looking very unwell.

"She was walking very slowly and then she just collapsed."

Charlie and her daughter then carried Ruby to the car where they immediately went to the nearest vet.

That's when they got the news no pet owner wants to hear.

"She had puncture marks to her neck from an adder," she added.

"I’ve never seen one and we’ve been walking in The Vyne for 20 years because we’ve always had dogs.

"Even the vet said that they'd never seen one in the past four years."

But by the time the anti-venom arrived and was administered, Ruby's heart just couldn't take it and she had a heart attack.

Now Charlie wants to warn other pet owners so they don't have to suffer the same fate as her Ruby did.

"I just want other dog owners to be aware because we had absolutely no idea that adders were about," she said.

"Adder snakes are geographical but because of the warm weather they are moving about.

"It was very traumatic and I wouldn’t want any other dog owner to go through that.

"The days since the freak accident have been horrendous, because she was a wonderful vibrant dog with many years ahead.

"We are blessed with the amount of walks we have available in a five mile radius living here, but this has rocked our confidence."

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How common are adders? 

The vipera berus or adders as they are more commonly known are the only venomous snake native to the UK.

Adults grow to roughly 50-60cm long and have a black/brown zigzag pattern along their back and V or X shaped marking on the back of the head.

They are most commonly found in the south and south west of England, western Wales and Scotland where their preferred habitats are sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorland and woodland edges.

Adders are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; this means that it is an offence to kill, harm, injure, sell or trade them.

If you are think that your dog may have been bitten by an adder, please contact your local vet.

Basingstoke Gazette: An adder at Durlston Country Park. Picture by Julian Sawyer of Purbeck Footprints

What are the symptoms of an adder bite? 

It's impossible to see everything that happens when you're walking your dog - especially off lead.

If you are worried your dog may have been bitten by an adder, you should contact your local vet immediately.

If your dog has been bitten, it may exhibit one of these symptoms: 

  • Two small puncture wounds.
  • Major swelling that may be dark in colour.
  • Limping, yelping or other evidence of your dog being in pain.
  • Blood/bruises.
  • Inflamed skin – from where the venom has spread.
  • Fast heartbeat or excessive panting.
  • Drooling.
  • Vomiting.