Neurologic and hematologic sequalae following a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) envenomation in a dachshund

Cory Woliver; Michael Schaer

doi:10.1016/j.toxcx.2023.100156

Neurologic and hematologic sequalae following a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) envenomation in a dachshund

Toxicon X. 2023 Apr 18:18:100156. doi: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2023.100156. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Cory Woliver¹, Michael Schaer²

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Lecturer of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, United States.
² Professor Emeritus, Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, United States.

Abstract

A 2-year-old female Dachshund had a witnessed timber rattlesnake envenomation. Although rattlesnake envenomations are a common, potentially life-threatening event in companion animals, timber rattlesnake envenomations in the dog are rarely reported. This dog described in this case report had significant hematologic and neurologic clinical derangements consistent with Types A and B rattlesnake venom and a suspected hypersensitivity reaction to the venom. This patient was treated aggressively with antivenom and fully recovered without any persistent neurologic signs at follow-up.

Keywords: 7th cranial nerve palsy; Antivenom treatment; Hypersensitivity reaction; Myokymia; Snakebite envenomation; Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).