title: Morbidity and mortality following envenomation by the common night adder (Causus rhombeatus) in three dogs.
abstract: In South Africa dogs are frequently presented to veterinarians following snakebite. The  offending snakes are usually puff adders (Bitis arietans), cobras (Naja spp.) and mambas  (Dendroaspis spp.). Night adder (Causus rhombeatus) bites in dogs have not yet been reported  in South Africa. This article deals with three cases of dogs bitten by night adders in which  extensive tissue damage was noted and one fatality occurred. Night adder bites may be  indistinguishable from puff adder bites. Non-specific treatment included addressing the  hypovolaemia and swelling. Specific treatment involving immunotherapy using the South  African polyvalent antivenom would be ineffective as it does not contain immunoglobulins  against night adder venom. Veterinarians should also include night adders as the possible  cause of dogs suffering from severe and painful swellings suspected to be due to snakebites.
authors: Rant en Dal Animal Hospital, Mogale City, South Africa. kdcramer@mweb.co.za
authors: Kurt G M
authors: KG
authors: de Cramer
authors: Garreth A
authors: GA
authors: van Bart
authors: Freek
authors: F
authors: Huberts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000662:veterinary*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D017819:Viperidae
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins