A dog has died after being bitten by a snake in the Bollin Valley.

Macclesfield RSPCA has issued a warning to dog walkers after the incident on Tuesday, July 26.

They said a dog was rushed to the vet after it was bitten by a suspected adder hidden in the long grass, but died two days later.

Rachel Butler, from the RSPCA, said: “We are very sad to hear that a dog has died after being bitten by an adder in Macclesfield and our thoughts are with the dog’s owners. This would have been a very distressing incident for them. Adder bites can be extremely dangerous to pets, particularly if the animal is bitten on the face. The bites can cause swelling, bleeding or fever, and dogs walked in adder habitats during spring and Dogs are naturally very curious but if you see your dog near one we advise that you distract your dog away from the snake to avoid any injuries.”

The adder is the only venomous snake native to the UK, while most dogs recover, in some cases it is necessary to treat with anti-venom. If you suspect your dog has been bitten follow the following advice: Seek the attention of a vet; carry your dog rather than let it walk to try to reduce the spread of the venom; bathe the wound in cold water to control the swelling; keep your pet warm and quiet.