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Case Report

Successful snakebite treatment in three juvenile African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) with polyvalent antivenom: A Namibian case report

Florian J. Weise, Rudie J. van Vuuren, Katherine E. Echement, Matthew P. Cleverley, Marlice van Vuuren
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 84, No 1 | a982 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v84i1.982 | © 2013 Florian J. Weise, Rudie J. van Vuuren, Katherine E. Echement, Matthew P. Cleverley, Marlice van Vuuren | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 14 January 2013 | Published: 27 March 2013

About the author(s)

Florian J. Weise, N/a’an ku sê Research Programme, Namibia
Rudie J. van Vuuren, N/a’an ku sê Research Programme, Namibia
Katherine E. Echement, N/a’an ku sê Research Programme, Namibia
Matthew P. Cleverley, N/a’an ku sê Research Programme, Namibia
Marlice van Vuuren, N/a’an ku sê Research Programme, Namibia

Abstract

This article reports the first documented treatment of venomous snakebite with a polyvalent snake antivenom from the South African Institute for Medical Research in endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). Three juvenile male animals (6.5 months of age) showed clinical signs after being bitten by an unidentified venomous snake. The signs included loss of appetite, disorientation, impaired locomotion, excessive facial swelling, profuse salivation, reduced respiratory effort and an apparent depressed mental state. Intravenous treatment with isotonic Ringer lactate solution, hetastarch 6% and dexamethazone, subcutaneous administration of procaine benzylpenicillin and benzathine benzylpenicillin, and ultimately intravenous administration of the polyvalent snake antivenom resulted in the complete recovery of all three wild dogs.


Keywords

snakebite treatment, African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, polyvalent antivenom, Namibia

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