Difference between revisions of "Adder Bites"

From WikiVet English
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 12: Line 12:
 
*swelling at puncture site
 
*swelling at puncture site
 
*altered mentation
 
*altered mentation
*cardiac
+
*cardiac abnormalities
 
===Laboratory Tests===
 
===Laboratory Tests===
 +
*'''Biochemistry:''' Transient elevations in one or more of the following parameters may be seen; Alanine Aminotransferase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Bile Acids, Glutamate Dehydrogenase, Creatinine Kinase and Creatinine <ref name="multiples"> '''Clinical and biochemical changes in 53 Swedish dogs bitten by the European adder - ''Viper berus'' ''', Lervik et al, Acta Vet Scand. 2010; 52(1):26, accessed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873270/?tool=pubmed#B1 on 08.12.10 </ref>
 +
 +
 
===Pathology===
 
===Pathology===
 
==Treatment==
 
==Treatment==

Revision as of 23:39, 8 December 2010



Introduction

The adder, also known as the viper, is native to many parts of the UK, where it is the only poisonous snake living in the wild [1]. Adder bites are most frequent between february and october. The habitat of the common european adder (Vipera Berus) extends throughout England, Wales, Scotland and some islands off the coast of Scotland, and the isle of Wight [2]. [1]. Adder bites can be accommpanied by the injection of venom [1], by one of the most sophisticated of mechanisms seen in the animal kingdom [3], or they can be venom-less in which case the damaged caused to the victim is limited to the puncture wounds [1]. The mortality rate in dogs that have received venomous bites is thought to be 3.5% to 4% [1]

Signalment

Adder bites have been reported in dogs, cats and horses [4].

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

  • swelling at puncture site
  • altered mentation
  • cardiac abnormalities

Laboratory Tests

  • Biochemistry: Transient elevations in one or more of the following parameters may be seen; Alanine Aminotransferase, Alkaline Phosphatase, Bile Acids, Glutamate Dehydrogenase, Creatinine Kinase and Creatinine [1]


Pathology

Treatment

  • Fluid Therapy:
  • Analgesia
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Anti-biotics

Prognosis

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Bites-snake/Pages/Introduction.aspxaccessed on 10.11.2010 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content
  2. Treatment of bites by adders and exotic venomous snake,Warrell DA,BMJ 2005;331:1244 doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1244(Published 12 november 2005)
  3. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/adder, accessed on 10.11.2010
  4. http://www.fabcats.org/owners/poisons/Cats%20and%20poisons.html, accessed on 10.11.2010