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www.veterinaryworld.org Veterinary World Vol.2, No.2, February 2009
Introduction
Snake bite in animals generally occurs during
grazing or hunting or while playing in the garden. Most
of the cases of snake bite have been reported in dogs
and horses (Garg, 2000). Poisoning from snake venom
in animals is an emergency which requires immediate
attention or otherwise delayed and inadequate
treatment may lead to untoward consequences. The
present paper describes snake bite in canines and its
therapeutic management.
Case history and observation
Male Labrador retreiver aged about two and half
years and female Alsatian cross aged about two years
with the history of frothy salivation, dull, depressed,
abnormal gait and with recumbent position were
brought to private clinic for treatment. According to the
owner, the dogs were usually placed in the garden and
had a history of snake problem.
On physical examination of the dogs revealed
cyanotic swollen areas with fang marks on tip of nose
in case of Labrador and on the left fore paw of Alsatian
cross respectively were observed.
Diagnosis
Based on the history and physical examination
of the dogs, the cases were suspected for snakebite.
The clinical parameters like rectal temperature, pulse
and respiratory rate of Labrador and Alsatian cross
showed 36
o
C, 44 per min and 18 per min and 36.2
o
C,
40 per min and 20 per min respectively. Further
1. Corresponding author, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, 2. Ph.D. Scholar,
Department of Veterinary Pharmacology & toxicology, 3. Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical
Medicine, 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology.
Veterinary World, Vol.2(2): 66-67 CLINICAL
Snake bite in dogs and its successful treatment
K. J. Ananda
1
, K. Mohan
2
, Ansar Kamran
3
and R. Sharada
4
Department of Veterinary Clinical Service Complex,
Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bangalore-560024
Abstract
Two dog viz. Labrador and Alsatian cross were presented to the peripheral hospital with a history
of frothy salivation, dull, depressed, abnormal gait and with recumbent position. They were
diagnosed for snake bite based on the history and physical examination. The hematological
parameters showed reduced values of hemoglobin, packed cell volume and increased total
leukocyte count. The biochemical values showed elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase and
creatinine. The successful treatment was done with anti-snake venom, fluid, corticosteroid,
muscuranic receptor antagonist and antibiotic with careful monitoring.
Key words: Labrador, Alsatian cross, snake bite, treatment
examination of both the cases revealed presence of
cold extremities and reduced reflexes.
The blood samples from both the dogs were collected
with and without ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid
(EDTA) for hematological parameters like haemoglobin,
packed cell volume and total leukocyte count estimation
and biochemical parameters such as alanine
aminotransferase and creatinin estimation.
The hematological parameters revealed
decreased hemoglobin concentration (12.6 g/dl, 13.2
g/dl) and packed cell volume (35%, 40%) and increased
total leukocyte count (18000/ml, 22000/ml) in Labrador
and Alsatian cross respectively. The biochemical values
showed elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase
(80 IU/dl, 90 IU/dl) and creatinine (2.2 mg/dl, 1.96 mg/
dl) in Labrador and Alsatian cross respectively.
Treatment
Both the dogs were treated with lyophilized
polyvalent anti-snake venom (Serum institute of India).
The clear supernatant obtained after dilution was slowly
administered intravenously in a shot of 1ml at an interval
of 3-4 minutes up to 10 ml. In addition, 500 ml of 5%
DNS (Dextrose Normal Saline) each was administered
intravenously to both the dogs. Dexamethasone
(Dexona, Cadila pharma) at the dose of 2mg/kg was
administered i/v and Atropine sulphate (Tropine, Neon
Labs) at the rate of 0.04mg/kg i/m. Further Enrofloxacin
(Enrocin, Ranbaxy) at the dose of 5 mg/kg, i/m and
tetanus toxoid (Serum institute of India) 2ml i/m were
given. Then the animals were kept under observation.
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www.veterinaryworld.org Veterinary World Vol.2, No.2, February 2009
After 1 hr it was observed that Labrador was passing
blood in the urine, however, no such clinical sign was
noticed in the other dog. Botropase (Juggart) 1ml i/v
was administered to Labrador dog. After 5 hrs the dogs
were active, normal and there was no relapse of the
signs was observed. The antibiotic therapy was
continued for 5 days to both the dogs. After one week
of treatment, it was confirmed that the dogs were
recovered uneventfully.
Discussion
Snake venoms are complex mixture of proteins
and peptides, consisting of both enzymatic and non
enzymatic compounds. Snake venoms also contain
inorganic cat ions such as sodium, calcium, potassium,
magnesium, and small amounts of zinc, iron, cobalt,
manganese, and nickel. The other components of
snake venoms are glycoproteins, lipids, and biogenic
amines, such as histamine, serotonin and
neurotransmitters (catecholamines and acetylcholine)
(Klaassen, 2008). Clinical signs such as frothy
salivation, dullness muscular weakness with abnormal
gait observed in the present study can be attributed to
the enzymatic and non enzymatic compounds in the
snake venom. According to Klaassen (2008),
hyalurinadase cleaves internal glycoside bonds in
certain acid mucopolysaccharides resulting decreased
viscosity of connective tissues allowing other fractions
of venom to penetrate the tissues. The cyanotic edema
observed at the site of bite may be attributed to enzyme
hyaluronidase which acts as a spreading factor.
Passing of blood in the urine observed in
Labrador dog can be hypothesized to the haematotoxic
effect of snake venom which may interfere with many
components of the haemostatic system (Wolff, 2006).
Moreover, the toxins such as the haemorrhagins cause
spontaneous bleeding in the gingival sulci, nose, skin
and gastrointestinal tract (Warrell and Fenner, 1993).
However, such bleeding tendencies were not noticed
in either of the two cases except hematuria in Labrador
dog.
The alterations in the hematological parameters
might be due to damage to the blood cells by snake
venom. The increased biochemical values like alanine
aminotransferase and creatinine may be due to the
hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effect of snake venom
(O’Shea, 2005).
Sometimes lyophilized polyvalent anti-snake
venom may cause anaphylactic reactions (Sai et al,
2008) to overcome the untoward effect to antivenom,
dexamethasone injection was given to the dogs.
However, in the present study corticosteroid was
preferred over antihistamines as in certain times it
potentiates the toxic action of the snake venom (Singh
1980). Prophylactically, Tetanus toxoid and broad
spectrum antibiotic were administered to the dogs, as
the fangs of the snake are supposed to be
contaminated with various types of bacteria.
References
1. Garg, S. K. (2002): In Zootoxins. Veterinary Toxiciology,
CBS publishers and Distributers 1
st
Edn New Delhi.
2. Wolff, F. A. D. (2006): Natural Toxins. In:
Clarke’s
Analysis of Drugs and Poison
. Pharmaceutical press,
London, Electronic Version.
3. Klaassen, C.D. (2008): Properties and Toxicities of
animal Venoms. In:
Toxicology . 7
th
Edn, McGraw-Hill,
New Delhi. Pp 1093-1098.
4. O’Shea, M. (2005):
Venomous Snakes of the World.
Princeton: Princeton University Press.
5. Sai Butcha Rao, M., Satish Kumar and Thirumala Rao,
D.S. (2008):
Intas Polivet., 9(1), 116.
6. Singh, B. (1980):
Livestock Advisor, 5, 55-60.
7. Warrell D. A. and Fenner, P. J. (1993):
Br. Med. Bull, 49,
423–439.
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