Bite of the venomous lizard, the Gila monster

The bite of the Gila monster may cause significant symptoms, including constitutional symptoms, pain, edema, mild hypotension, and less frequently, shock (as in the case reported here). Envenomations may be life-threatening but generally are easily managed by symptomatic and supportive measures and appear to be less toxic than envenomations by other poisonous reptiles. Prudent handling of captive animals could probably prevent the majority of these already uncommon bites.