Snakes!

[trevnhil]

That seems a bit strange when local vets have the antidote for animals.

[Bograt]

I have contacted the private clinics in Peyia and Coral Bay and NONE OF THEM have the anti venom. They told me that you have to go to the emergency dept at Paphos general hospital.

Thank you for doing that, you are most kind. Good information for people to know.

[LouiseCastricum]

This is a reply that came by email:
Dear Louise

Unfortunately No we cannot treat a poisonous snake bite here.

The patient should go straight to an Accident and Emergency Department to be given an Anti Venomous IV Treatment.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Best regards

Christina Aristidou Butchart
Practice Manager

[LouiseCastricum]

That seems a bit strange when local vets have the antidote for animals.

There might be a difference between the antidote for human beings and cats or dogs.

[Kili01]

A friend of mine was unlucky enough to be bitten on his calf by a BNV.He was out walking with a walking group and they were walking single file across some farm land, when he was suddenly attacked by one. He thinks that he was bitten twice. Within 5 to10 mins he collapsed in agony. Someone rang for an ambulance as they were too far away from their cars. When it eventually found them, his friends had to carry him to the road., John was taken straight to A&E. He was admitted to intensive care, had intravenous antibiotics and anti venom of course. It was very painful and his leg swelled up alarmingly, went black and all shades. Doctors said he must have had the full dose of poison. He was in hospital for 2 weeks and it took about 6 mths for him to get back to normal.
I am only posting this so other people realise that you must go to a state hospital immediately, should you be very unlucky to be bitten.

Dee

[Steve Matthews]

It's my understanding that the anti venom for humans is very expensive and has to be kept refrigerated. The veterinary clinics might be selling shots of something like adrenaline, rather than anti venom?

[Bograt]

This post has got me looking at anti snake bite gaiters on Amazon, but that is probably a bit extreme. Does anyone know if they can bite through wellington boots?

I am very interested in snakes and would like to see some, but I would like to do so safely...

[PaphosAL]

Terrarium is the word you are looking for, Lloyd.

AL

[Varky]

Never been there myself, but in the nearby village of Kouklia there a small snake park. I call it a park in the absence of a better description. It may well not be open this time of the year. Then of course there's Paphos Zoo.

Been there with my daughter and grandson a couple of years ago.. Only small but interesting. Got personal service as there was no-one else there. Got to handle a small snake. I did ask later if that snake was poisonous and the reply was "not very"!!!! But enjoyed it all the same.

[Kili01]

Bograt, I wear wellingtons myself if walking in long grass or vegetation.so far, over the years that I’ve been in Cyprus have been OK. But. always carry a long stick or aluminuum walking pole. If you thump the ground as you walk the vibrations are supposed to scare snakes off....
It’s a good rule though to only walk where you can see the ground around your feet and to keep an eye open for any sign of a snake. Best to avoid trouble. If exercising a dog, keep out of dense undergrowth as much as possible. We used to stick to tracks and clearly defined paths mostly.

Dee

[Bograt]

Never been there myself, but in the nearby village of Kouklia there a small snake park. I call it a park in the absence of a better description. It may well not be open this time of the year. Then of course there's Paphos Zoo.

Thank you HiC. Kouklia is a lovely place and I'm pleased to hear about the snake place. I will go and see it next visit, knowledge of snakes has got to be a good thing.

[Bograt]

Bograt, I wear wellingtons myself if walking in long grass or vegetation.so far, over the years that I’ve been in Cyprus have been OK. But. always carry a long stick or aluminuum walking pole. If you thump the ground as you walk the vibrations are supposed to scare snakes off....
It’s a good rule though to only walk where you can see the ground around your feet and to keep an eye open for any sign of a snake. Best to avoid trouble. If exercising a dog, keep out of dense undergrowth as much as possible. We used to stick to tracks and clearly defined paths mostly.

Dee

Thank you for that, Dee. I'll take your advice, and take a stick to alert the snakes to my presence. I'll keep the wellies on too. Hot feet are better than nipped ankles.

[Varky]

I suspect that anyone enquiring in Kouklia village about the terrarium will be given blank looks
Interesting Varky, must take our grandkids there; for some reason kids are always enthralled by snakes. My wife, meanwhile, will want to stay in the car.

Yes it was a bit difficult to find you have to drive around a bit.

Going back to the handling of the small snake. Before we went in, my daughter told my grandson that if inside they asked if we wanted to handle a snake he was to say 'no'. So, true to form they asked if we wanted to handle a snake my grandson immediately said 'yeah'. As it was we all handled the snake, daughter, son-in-law grandson and myself. Not my wife though, she had stayed in the car.

[Devil]

Have eaten rattlesnake, python, alligator, crocodile, zebra, giraffe and, in China, possibly all sorts of unmentionable things. I found the rattler a little tough, but I think it was overcooked.

[Jimgward]

[Jimgward]

Both images are from Cyprus of Blunt Nosed Vipers

[Bograt]

Warning to dog walkers. The snakes are out early this year. One of our dogs bitten by a BNV yesterday in fields between Tremithousa and Tala. Got him to the vets for antidote but next 48 hours critical.

How is the dog today?

[PhotoLady]

And remember, not all snakes may be crawling along the ground:
http://www.facebook.com/bangorshed/vide ... 354750934/

[LouiseCastricum]

I also got a reply by email from St George/Blue Cross Clinic:

Good afternoon

It is better to refer immediately to the general hospital to the emergency department as they have the proper vaccination for cases like this

Thank you and kind regards


Christina Horwarth
Administration
SAINT GEORGE & ΒLUΕ CROSS
PRIVATE HOSPITAL LTD
51, Demokratias Ave.,
P.O. Box 62213, 8062Paphos, Cyprus
Tel. 26221111, Fax: 26944998
E-mail: [email protected]

[Kili01]

The Blunt Nose viper's bite is dangerous to humans. One of my friends was bitten by one while out for a walk with a walking group In scrub land outside Limassol. He was unlucky as in his case the snake bit his leg twice. His pain was. Obvious to all. He had to be carried to the nearest road, while an ambulance was on its way to fetch him.
At Limassol General, he was taken first to A&E. There he was given the anti venom, plus tetanus and had his leg cleaned. He then spent a week in the ICU. His leg was very swollen and painful and had become blackand green in appearance.

So should anyone be bitten by this snake, it is very important to go to the General Hospital as soon as possible, as the venom could be fatal if nothjng is done.
Fortunately, he made a good recovery, which took several months.
Dee