Elapid snake envenomation is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in dogs and cats in Australia, with animals presenting to veterinarians in a critical state due to the rapid progression of envenomation. Thus snake envenomation can have a high emotional and economic impact on the client, but the prevalence of envenomation in domestic animals in Queensland is poorly described.
Our research team from the School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Australia, currently investigates the prevalence and the clinical and pathological characteristics for elapid snake envenomation of small animals in Queensland, Australia. The clinical symptoms, treatments performed, and the survival rate of the snake envenomation cases will be summarized. Our research is vital for gaining a better understanding of the epidemiology of elapid snake envenomation associated with various venomous snake species.
Our research team comprises:
- Dr Joerg Henning, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Epidemiology
- Ludovica Valenza, Final year BVSc student who is very passionate about wildlife and exotic veterinary practice
- Dr Jonathon Cochrane, Veterinary Clinician
- Associate Professor Rachel Allavena, Veterinary Pathologist
- Dr Mark Haworth, Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Veterinarian
In addition, we describe the pathological changes at autopsy and via clinic-pathological analysis of confirmed snake envenomation in small animals submitted to the SVS-UQ. Please contact us if you are a veterinarians and would like to submit a confirmed snake envenomation case for free autopsy to SVS-UQ.