Venomoid surgery is a surgical procedure performed on
venomous snake
''Venomous snakes'' are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow ...
s to prevent them from producing venom. The procedure has been used for snakes kept as pets or used in public demonstrations in order to remove the risk of injury or death when handled, but is considered illegal and unethical. Most venomoid procedures consist of either removing the venom gland itself, or severing the duct between the gland and the fang. Removal of fangs is uncommon, as snakes frequently regenerate teeth, and the more invasive procedure of removing the underlying
maxillary bone
In vertebrates, the maxilla (: maxillae ) is the upper fixed (not fixed in Neopterygii) bone of the jaw formed from the fusion of two maxillary bones. In humans, the upper jaw includes the hard palate in the front of the mouth. The two maxillar ...
would be fatal. However, the duct and gland have been known to regenerate, and supposedly "safe" snakes have killed mice and successfully envenomated humans.
Advocates of this procedure state that it is done for safety reasons and have published methods for this surgery.
However, this procedure is highly controversial among herpetologists,
and is considered
animal cruelty
Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction of suffering or Injury, harm by humans upon animals, either by omission (neglect) or by commission. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm ...
by many experts on venomous snakes, particularly in reference to the procedure being performed by unlicensed hobbyists with inadequate
analgesia
Pain management is an aspect of medicine and health care involving relief of pain (pain relief, analgesia, pain control) in various dimensions, from acute and simple to chronic and challenging. Most physicians and other health professionals ...
.
For instance, a veterinarian review on reptile surgery published in 2006 stated that "such practices should be discouraged" due to both ethical and animal welfare concerns.
Legality in Australia
Legal questions have been raised about amateur venomoid surgeries in Australia. The Australian 1986 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act states that animals must be anesthetized for the duration of an operation.
In 2007, the
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India
* Victoria (state), a state of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital
* Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...
state government amended the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 to ban the removal of venom glands from snakes unless performed for a therapeutic reason by a registered veterinarian. In addition, in a case involving the reptile showman and self-styled herpetologist
Raymond Hoser
Raymond Terrence Hoser (born 1962) is an Australian snake-catcher and author.
Hoser's work on herpetology is controversial, including his advocacy of the surgical alteration of captive snakes to remove their venom glands and his self-published ...
, a 2008 tribunal ruled that venomoid snakes cannot be handled by members of the public in Victoria, due to the risk of the venom glands regrowing.
[Mex Coope]
'De-venomised' snakes ruled dangerous
''The Age'' October 15, 2008
See also
*
Snake charming
Snake charming is the practice of appearing to hypnotize a snake (often a cobra) by playing and waving around an instrument called a pungi. A typical performance may also include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous ...
*
Docking (animal)
Docking is the intentional removal of part of an animal's tail or, sometimes, ears. The term cropping is more commonly used in reference to the cropping of ears, while ''docking'' more commonly—but not exclusively—refers to the tail; the ter ...
*
Onychectomy
Onychectomy, popularly known as declawing, is an operation to remove an animal's claws surgically by means of the amputation of all or part of the distal phalanges, or end bones, of the animal's toes. Because the claw develops from germinal tis ...
*
Veterinary ethics
Veterinary ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of veterinary medicine. As a scholarly discipline, veterinary ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its ...
References
{{Reflist
Cruelty to animals
Animal welfare
Snakes and humans