ABSTRACT
European countries, particularly those in the northern temperate regions, have a sparse venomous snake fauna with species only in the family Viperidae. Venomous snakebite in animals is of minimal clinical significance, but large and more aggressive individuals of the European viper, asp viper, long-nosed viper, and Orsini's viper may inflict bites that require veterinary care. The European climate varies from subarctic in the north to Mediterranean in the south. Snakes adapt to the variable climates. The European viper hibernates in the north; thus, snakebite is a problem only during the warm spring and summer months. Snakebite in animals in Europe is so infrequent that clinicians may have little experience with the clinical manifestations. Rarely will a history of snakebite be forthcoming from an owner. Diagnosis is based on the syndrome of local edema, hemorrhage, vesiculation, and, possibly, necrosis.
