Clinical and biochemical changes in 53 Swedish dogs bitten by the European adder--Vipera berus.

Jessica Berger Lervik,Inger Lilliehöök,Jan Hm Frendin

doi:10.1186/1751-0147-52-26

Jessica Berger Lervik, Inger Lilliehöök + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-52-26

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Abstract

BackgroundEvery year many dogs in Sweden are bitten by Vipera berus, the only venomous viper in Sweden. This prospective study investigated clinical signs, some biochemical parameters, treatment, and progress of disease after snakebite in 53 dogs. Effects of treatment with and without glucocorticoids were evaluated.MethodsAll fifty-three dogs bitten by Vipera berus were examined the same day the dog was bitten and the next day. Two more examinations during 23 days post snake bite were included. Creatinine, creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bile acid results were followed through 3 to 4 samplings from 34 of the dogs.ResultsAll dogs had variable severity of local swelling in the bite area and 73 per cent had affected mental status. Initial cardiac auscultation examination was normal in all dogs, but six dogs had cardiac abnormalities at their second examination, including cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac murmurs. All dogs received fluid therapy, 36 dogs were given analgesics, 22 dogs were treated with glucocorticoids, and ten dogs were treated with antibiotics. Evidence of transient muscle damage (increased CK) was seen one day after the snake bite in 15 (54%) of 28 sampled dogs. Moderate changes in hepatic test results occurred in 1 dog and several dogs (22 of 34) had transient, minor increases in one or more hepatic test result. No dog died during the observation period as a consequence of the snake bite.ConclusionsSnake bite caused local swelling in all dogs and mental depression of short duration in most dogs. Some dogs had transient clinical signs that could be indicative of cardiac injury and some other had transient biochemical signs of liver injury. Treatment with glucocorticoids did not have any clear positive or negative effect on clinical signs and mortality.

Highlights

Every year many dogs in Sweden are bitten by Vipera berus, the only venomous viper in Sweden
One dog received synthetic thyroid hormone and trilostan for hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease, one dog received carprofen for back pain, one dog was treated with cefalexin and milbemycinoxim for demodicosis and atopic dermatitis and one dog was treated for external otitis with fusidindietanolamin, framycetin sulphate, nystatin and prednisolone
One dog had a short period of lethargy and vomiting of unknown origin prior to the bite that resolved without treatment, and one dog had a one week old dog bite wound in the neck that was not treated

Summary

Introduction

Every year many dogs in Sweden are bitten by Vipera berus, the only venomous viper in Sweden. This prospective study investigated clinical signs, some biochemical parameters, treatment, and progress of disease after snakebite in 53 dogs. Every year during the period April through September many dogs are bitten by Vipera berus, the only venomous snake in Sweden. The main purposes of this prospective study were to better describe the clinical signs, to summarize evidence of organ damage based on physical exam and laboratory testing results and to evaluate treatment effectiveness especially with the question of use of glucocorticoids in treatment of snake bite with the Swedish viper Vipers are widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia, from western Europe (Great Britain, Scandinavia, France) across central (Italy, Albania, Bulgaria and northern Greece) and eastern Europe to north of the Arctic Circle, and Russia to the Pacific ocean, Sakhalin, Island North Korea, northern Mongolia and northern China [1,2].

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