Biomaterial Database

Pit Viper Envenomation in Two Pregnant Bitches. 2024

Katherine Hedges, and Michael Schaer, and Ashley Allen-Durrance

From College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Snake envenomation is relatively common in small animals, particularly in endemic areas. Effects and outcomes of envenomation during pregnancy are poorly described in humans and more so in veterinary patients. Two young pregnant female dogs presented to a university teaching hospital with a history of acute soft tissue swelling and bleeding. History, physical examination findings, and diagnostics were consistent with envenomation by crotalid snakes. Medical management of one of the dogs included administration of antivenin. Both dogs survived envenomation with minimal complications and went on to whelp without complications, and all fetuses survived. This is the first description of the management of pit viper envenomation in pregnant dogs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248	Pregnancy Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases.	Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D003435	Crotalid Venoms	Venoms from snakes of the subfamily Crotalinae or pit vipers, found mostly in the Americas. They include the rattlesnake, cottonmouth, fer-de-lance, bushmaster, and American copperhead. Their venoms contain nontoxic proteins, cardio-, hemo-, cyto-, and neurotoxins, and many enzymes, especially phospholipases A. Many of the toxins have been characterized.	Bothrops Venom,Crotalidae Venoms,Pit Viper Venoms,Rattlesnake Venoms,Crotactin,Crotalid Venom,Crotalin,Crotaline Snake Venom,Crotalotoxin,Crotamin,Pit Viper Venom,Rattlesnake Venom,Snake Venom, Crotaline,Venom, Bothrops,Venom, Crotalid,Venom, Crotaline Snake,Venom, Pit Viper,Venom, Rattlesnake,Venoms, Crotalid,Venoms, Crotalidae,Venoms, Pit Viper,Venoms, Rattlesnake,Viper Venom, Pit
D004283	Dog Diseases	Diseases of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). This term does not include diseases of wild dogs, WOLVES; FOXES; and other Canidae for which the heading CARNIVORA is used.	Canine Diseases,Canine Disease,Disease, Canine,Disease, Dog,Diseases, Canine,Diseases, Dog,Dog Disease
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000997	Antivenins	Antisera used to counteract poisoning by animal VENOMS, especially SNAKE VENOMS.	Anti-Venin,Anti-Venom,Antivenin,Antivenom,Anti-Venins,Anti-Venoms,Antivenoms,Anti Venin,Anti Venins,Anti Venom,Anti Venoms
D012909	Snake Bites	Bites by snakes. Bite by a venomous snake is characterized by stinging pain at the wound puncture. The venom injected at the site of the bite is capable of producing a deleterious effect on the blood or on the nervous system. (Webster's 3d ed; from Dorland, 27th ed, at snake, venomous)	Envenomation, Snakebite,Snake Envenomation,Snake Envenoming,Snakebite Envenoming,Snakebites,Bite, Snake,Envenomation, Snake,Envenoming, Snake,Envenoming, Snakebite,Snake Bite,Snake Envenomations,Snake Envenomings,Snakebite,Snakebite Envenomation,Snakebite Envenomations,Snakebite Envenomings
D017819	Viperidae	A family of snakes comprising four subfamilies: Azemiopinae (the mountain viper, the sole member of this subfamily), Viperinae (true vipers), Crotalinae (pit vipers) and Causinae. They are widespread throughout the world, being found in the United States, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Their venoms act on the blood (hemotoxic) as compared to the venom of elapids which act on the nervous system (neurotoxic). (Goin, Goin, and Zug, Introduction to Herpetology, 3d ed, pp333-36)	Asp,Bushmaster,European Viper,Azemiopinae,European Adder,Adder, European,Asps,Bushmasters,European Adders,European Vipers,Viper, European