A Yorkshire terrier has had one of his legs amputated after he was bitten by a poisonous snake in Highland Perthshire.
The eight-year-old dog, called Junior, was bitten by an adder near the River Tummel while out on a walk near Pitlochry with his owner Lucy Gordon and two other dogs.
Heartbroken Lucy (23) was walking Junior, along with Maggie and Bear, and didn’t notice his paw was sore until they got home.
The family pet was soon in a critical condition at the Edinburgh Veterinary School.
Junior was put on an anti-venom drug and was being fed through a tube while being medicated every 15 minutes to avoid seizures.
He was then sent to an animal hospital in Aberdeen where he had his leg amputated, in what Lucy hopes will be a life-saving operation to prevent sepsis and organ failure.
The adder is Scotland’s only venomous snake and while bites are rare, medical help should be sought immediately.
Hospitality worker Lucy told the PA’s sister paper, the Daily Record: “Junior didn’t appear injured at the time.
“It wasn’t until later I noticed he was uncomfortable and grooming his paw.
“I found a small cut on his pad which I bathed with salted water and smothered in an antiseptic cream. I thought he had stood on something sharp.
“By Saturday his paw was really swollen and after shaving his fur I could see a large puncture wound.”
Lucy said she couldn’t believe it when tests confirmed Junior had been bitten by a snake.
“I was totally shocked when the first vet said it was a snake bite,” she continued.
“I wasn’t aware of the danger of snakes and it was a race against time to get him treated.
“You never think that anything like this will happen to you.
“Amputation is not the outcome we were hoping for, however the vet advised the tissue damage is beyond repair. If we don’t remove the leg now he doesn’t stand a chance.”
She added: “We love our Junior more than words can express.
“I have had him since he was born, he is a very important member of my little family, I am so heartbroken.”
Lucy has created a JustGiving page to raise funds for Junior’s treatment costs and over £2500 has been donated so far.
She said: “The looming vets bills are the harsh reality. We do not know the extent of treatment or aftercare but we paid an initial deposit of £2000.
“We’ve been told to expect upwards of £4000.
“I have been overwhelmed with the love, support and generosity of friends, family, people from the local community and fellow dog lovers.”
The dog lover warned other owners to be on the lookout for snakes or injuries on pets and to act fast.
She said: “If you suspect this has happened to your pet, timing is everything.
“There’s such a short time frame for vets to administer anti-venom.”
To donate to Junior’s vet bills head to www.gofundme.com/f/help-juniors-vet-bills-after-snake-bite
