Livers and adders

RE: Livers and adders

David Mills — Wed, 18 May 2016 00:38:20 GMT

Update on this: dog discharged yesterday, less yellow, doing much better, liver enzymes normalising.

Strange case. Thanks for input. Something possibly to be aware of in future.

RE: Livers and adders

Utlendigur — Mon, 16 May 2016 16:15:08 GMT

When I first read the title I thought it was a Heston Blumenthal recipe

RE: Livers and adders

ChrisBVSc — Mon, 16 May 2016 15:06:03 GMT

We see loads of adder bites every summer here in Dorset and most get treated with antivenom. I'm not aware of any developing liver problems afterwards, or any other serious problems for that matter. I guess you can't rule out a link between the suspected adder strike and the liver problem, but with the number we see it's certainly not something we'd expect or worry too much about.

RE: Livers and adders

Nicola Cole — Sat, 14 May 2016 21:02:03 GMT

I had a dog with a suspected adder bite in Surrey-went lame after a walk, then progressive lameness, leg massively swollen then started with ventral swelling and skin went necrotic....the poor dog was put to sleep d/t the extent of the necrosis and horrible pain he was in. It was pretty horrific. I don't remember there being any hepatic involvement.

But may have been something else entirely as a snake was never actually seen.

such a shame, he was a lovely boy.....

RE: Livers and adders

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 13 May 2016 16:41:51 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Could it have been a rat bite?

Wynne

[/quote]

Good shout, I had that thought too.

RE: Livers and adders

nikki — Thu, 12 May 2016 20:34:06 GMT

We see a lot of adder bite at our practice in Farnham, Surrey thanks to the sandy common land. We tend to treat them all with anti-venom. Never seen any liver problems associated with snake bites.

RE: Livers and adders

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 12 May 2016 18:32:11 GMT

Could it have been a rat bite?

Wynne

RE: Livers and adders

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 12 May 2016 17:13:14 GMT

Not seen liver failure but did have one which died of acute pancreatitis after an 'alleged' adder bite - owner didn't see the adder strike but the dog jumped back out of a bush, cried and was lame afterwards with a slightly swollen paw in adder country.

RE: Livers and adders

Bob Russell — Thu, 12 May 2016 15:48:49 GMT

They do exist in parts of Surrey where there is suitable habitat. A 'dry' strike will cause significant pain without much venom being introduced. Some swelling might result from this.

I have lost a Golden Retriever, post strike, from liver failure about a week or so later. It was not a dramatic original injury, just a couple of wounds, a little swelling that became a bit bruised after.

I am pretty sure this is the only one I have treated that has died .

Would not rule it out completely especially if no other cause can be found.