New anti-venom developed to save pets from snakebites

Australian scientists have developed a new anti-venom treatment which will help save thousands of household pets from deadly snakebites.

Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have produced a more effective and lower cost anti- venom that will help reduce the number of deaths among dogs and cats bitten by venomous snakes in Australia, Xinhua news agency reported.

Australia is home to 10 of the most venomous snakes in the world, and bitten pets are often unable to be saved as current treatments can be expensive, ineffective and difficult to access.

CSIRO scientists coordinated with small biotech companies in regional Victoria to produce the treatment of venomous snakebites from the Eastern Brown and Tiger snakes.

Andrew Padula from Padula Serums, said the partnership with CSIRO helped turn his new anti-venom idea into a reality.

"I've been working on anti-venom serums for dogs and cats for a while now but I really needed the expert equipment and skills of the CSIRO scientists to make the best product possible," Padula said in a statement on Friday.

Once the final testing of the product has been completed and the anti-venom has been given the green light for sale from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, it will become available on the market and will be used by vets around the country.

The new anti-venom treatment could also be used for treating humans with snakebites, or against the toxins of paralysing ticks.

--IANS

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