title: Observations on blood coagulation after snakebite in dogs and cats.
abstract: Blood samples from 13 cases of snakebite, 6 in dogs and 7 in cats, were tested for activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). Four cases were tested for fibrinogen concentration. Based on the results of a commercially available ELISA test, 9 cases were caused by tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) and 1 case by a brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis). Three other cases had clinical signs and increased creatine phosphokinase values which suggested tiger snake envenomation. Although the period post-envenomation varied, results indicated a marked prolongation of the APTT and PT in 5 of 6 dogs. Three of these 5 dogs also had increased FDP values and 3 (of 3 examined) were hypofibrinogenaemic. Clinical manifestations of this coagulopathy were: haematoma formation after venepuncture (3 cases), gingival petechiae (1 case) and hyphaema (1 case). In contrast, there was minimal or no prolongation of the APTT and PT values, and no increase in FDP, in all 7 cats. Furthermore, no cat exhibited clinical signs of a coagulopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinic and Hospital, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011517:Prothrombin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D012910:Snake Venoms; D005340:Fibrinogen