Abstract
Objective-To characterize signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome in horses with rattlesnake envenomation in northern California. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-58 client-owned horses evaluated for rattlesnake envenomation at 2 referral hospitals from 1992 to 2009. Procedures-Records of horses with rattlesnake envenomation were reviewed, and data concerning signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome were collected. In addition, a rattlesnake-bite severity score (RBSS) was assigned to each horse. Variables were compared between horses that survived and those that did not. Results-The overall mortality rate was 9%. Nine horses received antivenin; no complications were reported and none of the 9 died. The most common laboratory findings associated with severity of envenomation were thrombocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, hyperlactatemia, and a high RBSS. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Most horses in this study had a good prognosis after being bitten by rattlesnakes. Laboratory and clinical examination findings may be useful for identifying horses with a poorer prognosis. Treatment with antivenin may be beneficial and warrants further evaluation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 631-635 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
| Volume | 238 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2011 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- veterinary(all)
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Rattlesnake envenomation in horses : 58 cases (1992-2009). / Langdon Fielding, C.; Pusterla, Nicola; Magdesian, K G; Higgins, Jill C.; Meier, Chloe A.
In: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol. 238, No. 5, 01.03.2011, p. 631-635.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Rattlesnake envenomation in horses
T2 - 58 cases (1992-2009)
AU - Langdon Fielding, C.
AU - Pusterla, Nicola
AU - Magdesian, K G
AU - Higgins, Jill C.
AU - Meier, Chloe A.
PY - 2011/3/1
Y1 - 2011/3/1
N2 - Objective-To characterize signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome in horses with rattlesnake envenomation in northern California. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-58 client-owned horses evaluated for rattlesnake envenomation at 2 referral hospitals from 1992 to 2009. Procedures-Records of horses with rattlesnake envenomation were reviewed, and data concerning signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome were collected. In addition, a rattlesnake-bite severity score (RBSS) was assigned to each horse. Variables were compared between horses that survived and those that did not. Results-The overall mortality rate was 9%. Nine horses received antivenin; no complications were reported and none of the 9 died. The most common laboratory findings associated with severity of envenomation were thrombocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, hyperlactatemia, and a high RBSS. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Most horses in this study had a good prognosis after being bitten by rattlesnakes. Laboratory and clinical examination findings may be useful for identifying horses with a poorer prognosis. Treatment with antivenin may be beneficial and warrants further evaluation.
AB - Objective-To characterize signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome in horses with rattlesnake envenomation in northern California. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-58 client-owned horses evaluated for rattlesnake envenomation at 2 referral hospitals from 1992 to 2009. Procedures-Records of horses with rattlesnake envenomation were reviewed, and data concerning signalment, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome were collected. In addition, a rattlesnake-bite severity score (RBSS) was assigned to each horse. Variables were compared between horses that survived and those that did not. Results-The overall mortality rate was 9%. Nine horses received antivenin; no complications were reported and none of the 9 died. The most common laboratory findings associated with severity of envenomation were thrombocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, hyperlactatemia, and a high RBSS. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Most horses in this study had a good prognosis after being bitten by rattlesnakes. Laboratory and clinical examination findings may be useful for identifying horses with a poorer prognosis. Treatment with antivenin may be beneficial and warrants further evaluation.
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U2 - 10.2460/javma.238.5.631
DO - 10.2460/javma.238.5.631
M3 - Article
VL - 238
SP - 631
EP - 635
JO - Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
JF - Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
SN - 0003-1488
IS - 5
ER -