Puppy bitten by snake needed five surgeries and 90 wound dressing changes

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A golden retriever puppy needed five surgeries and his skin started to peel after being bitten by an adder.

Kobi had been for a walk through long grass in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, and later became "very lethargic" and cried when touched.

Unaware he'd been bitten, owner Roma Morgan rushed the seven-month-old to the vet where he had blood tests and painkillers - but his symptoms got worse.

His neck swelled up and it was only when the vet shaved Kobi's neck that they found a "traumatic injury", which they said may have been a snake bite.

Adders are the only venomous snake native to the UK and are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Morgan from the village of Penparcau in Ceredigion is now warning dog owners about the dangers of adders.

Over a 10-month period, Kobi has needed five surgeries and 90 wound dressing changes.

Morgan said the incident happened in June 2025.

"He was crying every time we touched him," Morgan said, describing him as "very lethargic".

Kobi was taken to a vet who took blood samples and gave him an injection to help manage his pain, but by midnight his symptoms became worse.

By 05:00 the next day, his neck began to swell. Morgan called the vets again who said it could be a blood clot, so asked the couple to bring Kobi back to the practise.

When the vets shaved Kobi's neck they found a "traumatic injury", which they said may have been an adder bite. He was given more painkillers before being sent home.

After returning home, Morgan said Kobi was still unwell and "looked terrible" so decided to ask for a second opinion, driving him to Carmarthen as anti-venom he needed was not available in Ceredigion.

After receiving it, Kobi was taken to Ystwyth Veterinary Practice in Llanbadarn Fawr where he was treated by director Hannah Hunt and her team.

Kobi required extensive treatment, including five surgeries and 90 wound changes.

"Hannah said if it got too much for Kobi we would have to stop. He used to stand and put his head on her shoulder. He loved Hannah, he knew she was helping him," Morgan said.

Hunt said when Kobi came into their care he had a "huge amount of swelling" and tissue damage from the toxins caused by the adder bite.

She said the more a dog moves after being bitten, the more the toxin moves around its body, leading to tissue death.

Kobi stayed at the vet for three days, but his treatment continued for a total of 10 months.

Despite Kobi's ordeal, he was "always really happy to see us", Hunt said.

"We did some incredible things to that dog without needing to sedate him. Sometimes we were bandaging him daily and he would just stand there. He is such a lovely dog and made it very easy to do this," she added.

Morgan said despite the "very expensive" cost of Kobi's care, he is part of their family and she would have paid "anything" to help him.

She said seeing Kobi being a puppy again and playing was "the best feeling".

"Seeing him running and swimming makes it all worthwhile. He's our little hero," she said.

Morgan personally thanked Hunt, who came in on her days off work to dress his wounds at a point where he needed them changed every day due to infections.

"The amount of hugs I gave her, I lost count. She is professional and committed to helping animals. She is one in a million and Kobi loves her. We are forever grateful," she said.

Kobi is now "happy and healthy" and enjoying the summer after his life-saving treatment, but his owners are now "scared" about him being around long grass.

Morgan hopes Kobi can be a reminder to other dog owners to "take care" of their "fur babies".

Adders are commonly found in the south and south-west of England, western Wales and Scotland and their habitats include sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorland and woodland edges.

In March this year, a springer-spaniel died following a suspected adder bite on Anglesey, while in 2025 a reptile, believed to be an adder, was spotted on Morfa'r Garreg beach in Pwllheli, Gwynedd.

The same year, a warning was issued by South Wales Police to keep dogs on leads following increased sightings of adders in Port Eynon and near Worm's Head in Gower, Swansea.

Symptoms of adder bites in dogs include pain and swelling, bruising, lethargy, drooling and vomiting.