Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood and urine changes in dogs bitten by Vipera berus snake
By Nicolaysen, Tove V et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2024·Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A longitudinal study of the blood and urine metabolome of Vipera berus envenomated dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs that were bitten by the common European adder (Vipera berus) showed signs of potential kidney injury due to the snake's venom. Researchers studied blood and urine samples from these dogs to identify markers of envenomation and any long-term effects. They found several substances in the blood and urine that could indicate kidney damage and other issues caused by the venom. Fortunately, the study suggests that dogs treated with the best available care are unlikely to experience lasting harm from the bite.
People also search for: dog snake bite treatment · signs of kidney injury in dogs · European adder venom effects on dogs
Abstract
Envenomation of dogs by the common European adder (Vipera berus) is associated with high morbidity. The cytotoxic venom of Vipera berus contains enzymes with the potential to cause acute kidney injury, among other insults, however robust biomarkers for such effects are lacking. A prospective observational follow-up study of naturally envenomated dogs and controls was conducted to fill knowledge gaps regarding canine Vipera berus envenomation, attempt to identify novel biomarkers of envenomation and related kidney injury, and elucidate potential long-term effects. Blood and urine samples were analyzed with a global metabolomics approach using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, uncovering numerous features significantly different between cases and controls. After data processing and feature annotation, eight features in blood and 24 features in urine were investigated in order to elucidate their biological relevance. Several of these are associated with AKI, while some may also originate from disturbed fatty acid β-oxidation and soft tissue damage. A metabolite found in both blood and a venom reference sample may represent identification of a venom component in case dogs. Our findings suggest that envenomated dogs treated according to current best practice are unlikely to suffer permanent injury.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38718545/