Snakebite in captive Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)

Journal of Wildlife Diseases
M W MillerA T Tu

Abstract

Eight cases of snakebite occurred in seven of 11 captive Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) during June and July 1987. Severity of reactions to envenomation varied; affected elk presented with combinations of signs that included painful swelling restricted to the face and muzzle, submandibular edema, inspiratory dyspnea, epistaxis, frothy, blood-tinged nasal discharge, epiphora, anorexia and anxiousness or depression. We observed puncture wounds in only two cases. Treatment consisted of dexamethasone (about 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously, single dose) and procaine penicillin G (about 25,000 IU/kg subcutaneously, once or twice daily, for 5 to 6 days), as well as revaccination using clostridium and tetanus toxoids. Swelling resolved and elk recovered in 3 to 5 days without complications. Using immunodiffusion, we detected serum antibodies to prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) venom in six of seven affected elk, demonstrating seroconversion in three cases and anamnesis in one elk bitten twice. Venom was undetectable in any serum samples using similar techniques.

Citations

Jul 31, 2013·Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·J M SonisT B Hackett

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric condition characterized by severe weight loss and secondary problems associated with malnutrition. Here is the latest research on AN.

Related Papers

Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Mayrim L PérezMichael Schaer
Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection = Wei Mian Yu Gan Ran Za Zhi
Chun-Ming ChenChuang-Ming Wang
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Jennifer L McCownRichard C Hill
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Shan YinTammi Schaeffer
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
C Langdon FieldingChloe A Meier
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved