venomoids- removing venom glands

[jim mcallister]

Hey, i'm new to this forum and was curious about the removing of venom glands. I'm sure there are many horror stories about unqualified people attempting this surgury but with an experienced vet how dangerous is this surgury? Is this practice commom in the U.S? If cb young snakes receive this surgury from a qualified vet would they normally lead a healthy life and reproduce? Would they ever regrow the venom glands?

I'm just looking for discussion here as i am neither pro or con as i'm not educated on this subject. Thanks.....

[BWSmith]

If you do a search, you will find pages of information.

[ChurleR]

Just read the thread 2 or 3 below this one with 7 pages of replies, you can collect massive amounts of venomoid operation info there. Most of the people here are completely against it, and for good reason.

[jim mcallister]

i did not realize this thread (from the topic) just 3 down dealt with this , nor did i realize there was this much info out there. Now i know and i will read it.

[MsTT]

http://snakegetters.com/demo/vet/venomoid-faq.html

[lostwithin]

Hey Jim how’s it going, There’s tons on info on the forums here about it, You thinking about getting into hots??
The main arguments you come across on it is that most are done by unqualified people since a lot of reputable vets will not perform the surgery because of the ethical debates surrounding it. Most will argue that the venom is essential for a healthy animal because it actually plays a large roll in digestion. Some who are against it is simply because if the market of “legal “ venomoids were too flourish then the armatures could sell there animals. And this could put the public at a great risk because if not preformed correctly the animal is still venomous and could easily kill unsuspecting owners. And can you imagine the bad press the reptile hobby would then receive. It’s a perfect recipe for disaster.

In the end most people will agree either that the hobby is better off without venomoids, weather they are concerned for the animals, the hobby, the public, or all of the above, I myself have been debating hots, but wont have any until I can get a personal supply of anti-venom for everyone’s safety.
Devon

[MsTT]

Had root canals much?

My primary objection is that it hurts the snake rather a lot. If you lack the professional level skills, tools and housing to safely keep a dangerous wild animal, please leave it in the zoo where it belongs. Crippling and mutilating it just so you can have a "cool" pet is a remarkably rotten thing to do to a snake. The snake pays the price in blood and pain because you want instant gratification and an ego boost.

Even when the surgery is done by a veterinarian with anesthesia and pain medication, it hurts. If you have ever had a major dental operation, not just filling cavities or pulling teeth, I mean something invasive where they have to cut deeply into your jaw to get at the roots of your teeth, you will understand how a venomoid operation feels. A snake's mouth is extremely well innervated, just like a mammal's.

Most of the time the surgery is not done by a professional, but by an amateur with no pain medication and sometimes no anesthesia. In some of these cases, the surgery is done incompletely or incompetently and the snake is still able to produce venom.

All in all, this is an inadvisable procedure that isn't worth the risks to either the snake or the keeper.

[jim mcallister]

Mstt- thanks for the link- very interesting.

Devon, it's going great and i'm not getting into hots. They are beautiful animals that i respect but if i ever owned one it would be years away with much more experience and resources.

I found it surprising to see venomoids for sale in the classifieds on the other site.........

[Cruciform]

As someone who has had a wisdom tooth removed over a 4 hour period, without working anesthesia, I sympathize with the snakes greatly.

The pain is incredible, and seeing as that's only tooth removal, the agony that a snake must go through while the individual cuts through tissue to get to the gland must be immense.

urk. now i'm having flashbacks.

[Mustangrde1]

I think if its possible this thread should be merged with the other one.

[ReptileHQ]

I would like to purchase recently removed venom glands and ducts. I want to implant them in a tortoise of some kind. A venomous tortoise......can you think of anything cooler???

Chris

[JD@reptiles]

a venomous leopard gecko

[bistrobob85]

If i were aloud to get into hots, i would surely not get their glands off! It's a little like if you cut the glands on a tarantula, or cut a scorpion's tail, or get the ribbs out of a constricting snake... I say if you purchase an animal, do it responsibly, and respect the animal as it is, with it's claws, teeth, poisons, fangs, insane behavior, or don't buy it if you're not ready to assume the full animal itself.

[Samba]

Originally posted by JD@reptiles
a venomous leopard gecko

LMFAO!!! I could only imagine!! =)