EMERGENCY CARE FOR SNAKEBITE ACCIDENTS IN DOGS: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Snakebite accidents constitute a significant veterinary emergency, especially in rural and peri‑urban regions of Brazil, where venomous snakes are more prevalent. In dogs, such incidents may lead to severe clinical conditions, with a substantial risk of systemic complications and death if treatment is not prompt and appropriate. The aim of this project was to report a snakebite case in three dogs bitten by snakes of the genus Bothrops, treated at the Dog Vida Veterinary Clinic in Cacoal, Rondônia. They were attended within an ideal time frame and submitted to therapeutic protocols. It is expected to demonstrate, through this case, that an early clinical approach combined with technical and practical knowledge and the correct pharmaceuticals is decisive for the animals’ survival. The text describes the lack of knowledge by the pet owners about what should be done after such accidents, the scarcity of studies focused on emergency care, the clinical signs, drugs, antivenom, examinations, and the care carried out by trained veterinary professionals.