title: Anuric renal failure in a dog after red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) envenomation.
abstract: A case of Red-bellied Black snake envenomation resulting in intravascular haemolytic anaemia, rhabdomyolysis and anuric renal failure is described in the dog. A 12-year-old female desexed Golden Retriever was presented with a 15 hour history of profuse salivation, progressive lethargy, obtundence, inappetence and collapse. Significant findings on clinical examination were pallor, icterus, tachypnoea and dyspnoea with increased respiratory sounds and crackles in all lung fields. Generalised abdominal and muscular pain was apparent and dark red-brown urine was present around the perineal region. A diagnosis of Red-bellied Black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) envenomation was made and the dog was treated with intravenous fluid therapy, Tiger/Brown snake antivenom, packed red cell transfusions and Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation. Continued clinical deterioration occurred and a diagnosis of acute renal failure secondary to myohaemoglobinuric pigmenturia was made 12 hours after admission. Intensive treatment was attempted with diuresis and volume expansion. Oliguria and subsequent anuria ensued and the dog was euthanased due to a grave prognosis and lack of clinical response to treatment. Necropsy examination revealed muscular necrosis, accumulation of fluid in the thoracic and peritoneal cavities, and marked renal tubular necrosis with intraluminal occlusion secondary to pigmentary casts.
authors.affiliation: University Veterinary Centre, Camden, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sydney, PMB 4 Narellan Delivery Centre, Narellan, New South Wales, 2567, Australia. J.Heller@vet.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bosward
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pottie
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004285:Dogs; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017815:Elapidae; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; C026235:Pseudechis venom