Inject anti-venom into an venomous creatures?

Question

i always wonder what it'd happen if you inject anti-venom into the specific venomous creatures. for instant, if you inject anti-venom that is specifically for cobra's venom into a cobra, would the cobra become venomless or die?

Answer 1

First of all, injecting a cobra with that species anti-venin (yes anti-venin; the antibodies in the serum do not directly neutralize the venom) would supposedly have no effect on the snake's venom production for two reasons. Before I begin, let me point out that 1) the "fight fire with fire" approach i.e. the first response, is entirely off point since you are referring to using an anti-venin, and not increasing the animal's resistance to the venom. The anti-venin is an antibody-not a poison. 2) In what sense are true venom secreting glands non-essential? There are no REAL veterinarians that would de-venomate an animal like this for a fear of either incomplete removal or regeneration of the glands (both are serious and real risks). The reality is, you would have to remove the teeth from the animal (all the teeth) as well, to ensure protection from envenomation, the venom producing glands are absolutely essential to the cobra. O.K., the anti-venin is always administered by a drip IV, not an injection. It could be used to treat the bite (i.e., cobra on cobra violence), but would have no effect on the animal's own production of the product, since that product is not circulating throughout the bloodstream, which is where the antibodies would congregate. Those anti-bodies are also short lived, and would dissipate relatively quickly. Lastly, the cobra (Naja sp.) is one of the few snakes that are reputed to be immune to their own venom, supposedly because they are also reputed to eat other snakes (and this would help prevent cannibalism).

Answer 2

Well, the venom isn't part of the animal's vital systems, or anything, so you can take out an animal's venom glands and it won't have any direct ill-effect on that creature.

As for the antivenin itself being harmful to the animal, I find that also doubtful. They bind to and neutralize venom, they don't actively cause things to happen. Plus, the antivenin itself will only last so long before it's flushed from the system, so once it's gone, the crature will still be making venom like before.

Answer 3

no, venomous creatures have sacks in which their poison lies. Also if u did inject it into the poison sacks it wont kill it because the anti venom blocks the venom from entering receptors in the body,so it wont debilitate the animal at all or affect the ambient venom.

Answer 4

NEVER. Try this analogy:. If you poured a cup of spray collected from a skunk onto a skunk would that make the skunk completely odorless?