Rattlesnake venom poisoning in horses: 32 cases (1973-1993).
Abstract: To determine the clinical manifestations, morbidity, mortality, and treatment methods for rattlesnake venom poisoning in horses. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records. Methods: 27 horses with acute venom poisoning attributable to prairie rattlesnakes, and 5 with chronic problems subsequent to a rattlesnake bite. Results: Most horses were bitten on or near the muzzle while on pasture, resulting in head swelling, dyspnea, and epistaxis. Additional manifestations of acute poisoning included fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, cardiac arrhythmia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhage, thrombosis of venipuncture sites, colic, diarrhea, and prehensile and masticatory dysfunction. Chronic problems included cardiac disease, pneumonia, laminitis, pharyngeal paralysis, and wound complications. The most common chronic problem was cardiac disease. The most commonly used treatments were antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tetanus prophylaxis, and airway support. Mortality in the 27 acutely affected horses was 18.5%; the overall mortality was 25%. Conclusions: Horses bitten by prairie rattle-snakes may develop multiple, often severe, acute or chronic manifestations of poisoning involving various organ systems. Thorough clinical evaluation, effective treatment, supportive care, and close observation are indicated in horses with rattlesnake venom poisoning.
Publication Date: 1996-06-01 PubMed ID: 8675476
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article reviews medical records of 32 horses bitten by prairie rattlesnakes to understand the clinical symptoms, severity, death-rate and treatment measures for such cases over a 20-year span (1973-1993). The study identifies different symptoms including respiratory and cardiac issues, anemia, internal bleeding, colic and mouth paralysis as well as long-term issues among the surviving horses.
Overview of the Research
- The study is a retrospective review of medical records of 32 horses that suffered from rattlesnake venom poisoning. This included 27 acute cases and 5 chronic cases.
- The investigation period stretched over two decades from 1973 to 1993, providing an extensive range of both acute and chronic symptoms following rattlesnake bites.
- This research work is key in understanding the effect of rattlesnake venom on horses, especially considering how under-studied this topic is.
Clinical Symptoms and Mortality Rate
- The horses bitten by rattlesnakes exhibited multiple symptoms, many of them severe, affecting different organ systems. These symptoms typically included head swelling, difficulty breathing, nosebleeds, fever, elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, cardiac arrhythmias, anemia (low blood cell count), platelet deficiency, internal bleeding, clotting at puncture sites, colic, diarrhea, and functional disorders when it comes to gripping and chewing food.
- Chronic problems that followed the rattlesnake bite included cardiac disease (the most common), pneumonia, laminitis (hoof inflammation), throat muscular paralysis and wound complications.
- The mortality rate was 18.5% from the 27 acute cases, while the overall mortality rate was 25%. This indicates that horses bitten by rattlesnakes had a considerable risk of death, whether immediately following the bite or in the longer term due to continuing health issues.
Treatment Measures
- The study also covered the treatment approaches used in these cases. These treatments mostly included antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tetanus prevention, and respiratory support when needed.
- The research emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive clinical evaluation, effective treatments, supportive care, and close monitoring in cases of horses with rattlesnake venom poisoning.
Cite This Article
APA
Dickinson CE, Traub-Dargatz JL, Dargatz DA, Bennett DG, Knight AP.
(1996).
Rattlesnake venom poisoning in horses: 32 cases (1973-1993).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 208(11), 1866-1871.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colorado / epidemiology
- Crotalid Venoms / poisoning
- Crotalus
- Death, Sudden / etiology
- Death, Sudden / veterinary
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Morbidity
- Retrospective Studies
- Snake Bites / epidemiology
- Snake Bites / therapy
- Snake Bites / veterinary
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