Dr. Cory Woliver, DVM, emergency and critical care lecturer at the University of Florida, joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss venomous snake bite management in veterinary practice. Ever wondered how many vials of anti-venom to give when a copperhead or rattlesnake strikes? This episode cuts through the guesswork on coagulation testing, anti-venom dosing strategies, pain control options, and when to hospitalize versus treat as an outpatient. Dr. Woliver explains why steroids, NSAIDs, and routine antibiotics often miss the mark and how early, aggressive anti-venom is your best defense against tissue necrosis. You’ll learn practical tips on evaluating bite severity, setting client expectations, and choosing between strong opioids like methadone or hydromorphone for pain relief. Whether you see one snake bite a season or dozens, this one-stop shop equips you with the science and experience to act confidently under pressure. Let’s get into this episode.
You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts!
LINKS
https://www.nationalsnakebitesupport.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/national.snakebite.support
https://www.snakebitefoundation.org
Dr. Know-It-All Card Game: https://drandyroark.com/product/dr-know-it-all-card-game/
Dr. Andy Roark Charming the Angry Client Team Training Course: https://drandyroark.com/charming-the-angry-client/
Dr. Andy Roark Swag: drandyroark.com/shop
All Links: linktr.ee/DrAndyRoark
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Cory Woliver is a veterinarian practicing as a Clinical Lecturer in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his BS in biology at SUNY Stony Brook and his DVM at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. During his 18-month emergency and critical care-focused internship at Colorado State University, he treated a large number of snake envenomations. He has also earned a certificate in hemodialysis through the University of California – Davis.
After his postgraduate training, Dr. Woliver spent several years in private practice in New York before coming to the University of Florida in 2019. His clinical interests include snakebites (especially coral snake envenomations), acute kidney injuries, and extracorporeal therapies. He is currently the PI for the clinical trial using Varespladib in coral snake envenomated patients.
