A PET dog from Saltcoats died after being attacked by a poisonous snake while enjoying a walk at a beauty spot.

Three-year-old cocker spaniel Molly passed away days after being bitten on the chest by an adder while playing in the woods around Fairlie Castle.

The stricken dog developed a tennis-ball size swelling in her foot before developing liver problem, a swollen pancreas and fluid on her lungs as a result of the venom in her system.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

Despite the best efforts of experts at Glasgow Vet School, Molly died after losing a four-day fight for life in intensive care.

Her heartbroken owner Suzanne Naylor-Johnston, from Saltcoats, is now urging others to be vigilant.

She said: “We were out walking and Molly was just running around in the woods as she normally does, then she just yelped loudly.

“She came back to us and by the time we had got her back to the car she had a tennis ball sized swelling on her chest.

“We thought she had run into a fallen tree and it had caught her, so we took her to the vet and they didn’t know what it was at first.

“She was sent to the veterinary hospital, and the experts there realised it was a snake bite, but by that point it was too late to give her anti-venom.”

Suzanne says the bite had a terrible effect on her dog. Molly developed serious problems with her liver and fluid in her lungs, as well as severe pancreatitis, where the organ can become swollen for days or weeks.

She says that the presence of snakes had never crossed her mind when out with Molly, with attacks on animals and humans in Scotland extremely rare.

She said: “You know they are out there, but it never crosses your mind when you’re walking. I suppose snakes are a bit like rats in that sense.

“We go to Eglinton Park all the time and Molly is in and out of the trees with our other dog, and nothing has ever come of it.

“It was sheer bad luck that she’s come across a snake, but you have to worry because it could have been a small child that stumbled across it.

“Unfortunately the snake that killed her is still out there.”

Suzanne is urging local dog walkers and parents to be on the lookout when walking in the woods and to read up about the action to take should a bite occur.

She said: “I would ask people to be vigilant. If your dog gets bitten or tagged then make sure you are informed what to do next.

“If your dog barks or yelps, keep your eyes open and give them a thorough check over because you never know is be out there.

“It would be good to get signs in areas where there have been snake sightings, but until then I’d warn everyone to be on their guard.”

More advice can be found at www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-advice/dog-advice/adder-bites-in-dogs/