A family pet's face was left in an awful mess after being bitten by a poisonous snake while out on a walk.
Shock photos show the damage caused to Alfie the cocker spaniel when an adder sunk its fangs into the side of its head.
The dog was in long grass in a small field in Middlesbrough when the ordeal took place, according to Teesside Live .
His owner Julie Lackenby thought Alfie had suffered an allergic reaction or been stung by a nettle because he didn't cry out in pain.
But in the following days his face the swelled up so badly that an abscess burst, sending blood flying everywhere.
He was rushed to the vets who cleaned his wound and examined the bite.
The poison was cleaned up and thankfully, eight-year-old Alfie is getting better - but Julie is urging other dog walkers to be on their guard.
"It has been a horrendous week but thankfully, he's healing up," said Julie.
"Anyone with a cocker will know they like sniffing and he was just doing that on the edge of the long grass. He didn't even yelp or anything.
"Please be aware and on your guard. It has been an awful week, the trauma he has suffered.
"Luckily he's going to be okay. As all dog lovers and owners know they are part of your family, I don't want another dog/owner to go through what we have."
The incident happened last Sunday, June 30.
When Julie went downstairs on Monday morning she noticed Alfie didn't want to come out of his bed and his face was swollen.
She took him to the vet and he was given anti inflammatory drugs and antibiotics but a blood test proved normal.
A massive lump then started to appear on the side of his head which by Friday, simply exploded, she said.
He was admitted to the PDSA pet hospital in Middlesbrough where vets knew straight away what must have happened.
"They rushed him in really quickly, they could see he was in a state," said Julie.
"The vet said there and then he'd been bitten and they thought it was a snake bite, an adder.
He was sedated so they could clean the wound and get the poison out.
It was absolutely awful, he looks in a bit of a sorry state and he's having ongoing treatment including painkillers.
"He's got a dent in his head where the snake has gone in to him but thankfully his eye has not been damaged. The PDSA were absolutely amazing and I'm just thankful that he is still with us."
She posted some pictures of Alfie online with her warning message and has been indundated with good wishes for him.
"I just wanted to get it out there, to show what can happen," added Julie.
