Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe bleeding disorder in dog after Arabian horned viper bite
By Iris, Green et al.·Published in Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology·2025·Department of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Successful management of severe coagulopathy in a dog following Cerastes gasperettii (Arabian horned Viper) envenomation: First clinical case description in Israel.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old pointer dog in Israel was brought in after being bitten by an Arabian horned viper, showing symptoms like swelling and lethargy. Tests revealed severe bleeding issues and some kidney problems. Since there was no specific antivenom available, the vet treated the dog with fresh frozen plasma, fluids, and supportive care. Remarkably, the dog made a full recovery within 36 hours.
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Abstract
This report describes the first documented clinical case of a confirmed, naturally occurring Cerastes gasperettii (C. gasperettii; Arabian horned viper) envenomation, providing valuable insight into the limited literature on this important species. The case describes a five-year-old pointer dog from the Arave Valley, Israel. Clinical signs included progressive soft tissue swelling and lethargy. Laboratory findings revealed severe coagulopathy, mild renal impairment, and evidence of microangiopathic hemolysis. Despite the unavailability of species-specific antivenom, treatment management with canine fresh frozen plasma, crystalloid therapy, and supportive care, resulted in full recovery within 36 hours. This case contributes significantly to understanding the clinical manifestations, therapeutic strategies, and potential pathophysiological mechanisms of C. gasperettii envenomation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40074044/