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and yet another AV question (new one)
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by RYAN_S on December 25, 2000
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Okay...I just remembered another thing my local zookeeper told me about hot bites, etc. I was asking, after he told me I could not get AV's, "What if I did, and I happened to get tagged, have a sheet near each cage with the species name, common name, some other info, etc. and took that sheet, along with the AV to my local hospital...Then they'll already have it, right?"
Well, he said No. They have to go through the poison control center, etc. blah blah...Someone on here told me my zookeeper is VERY wrong about not being able to obtain AV's, so that is why I'm asking this question.
I would really like to know what all of you do in case of snakebites...surely, if you have or would happen (I would hope not) get bitten by a hot, do you just inject yourself? Or do you have the same idea as me as in taking it to the hospital with you?
Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas and Hannukah (sp?)!
Ryan
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RE: and yet another AV question (new one)
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by DON on December 25, 2000
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You can certainly get AV. You will need several things:
(1) A prescription from a doctor.
(2) Someone who is willing and qualified to order it for you.
(3) A big huge pile of money because crotalid polyvalent costs over $500 per vial (wholesale) and you may need in excess of 10-20 vials per bite. This is what you will need for an atrox bite.
It will probably be much more economical to be bitten after Cro-Fab becomes readily available. I suggest you wait.
Not only is Wyeth ACP extremely expensive, it is virtually impossible to obtain. You will encounter difficulty getting it from anyplace but the factory. Wholesalers do not generally have it available these days.
The usual drill is collect a vial here and a few vials there, after a bite. If snakebite is a common occurrance in your area, you stand a fair chance of collecting enough vials in time to save your butt. If not...
And no, you don't simply shoot up antivenin like it's dope. It must be administered IV in a controlled environment with full life support equipment and medications at hand to counteract anaphylactic shock and other little inconveniences.
And then there's the part about the shelf life if you maintain your own supply. It expires like any other drug. Plan on replacing it every few years.
Sound like fun? Figure on spending around 50K for a good bite.
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A more telling question
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by Buzztail1 on December 27, 2000
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A more telling question might be to ask all of these experienced venomous reptile keepers: Who among you keeps their own antivenom and why? Then you might find out that the real answer is to plan not to get bitten! I don't know of anyone in my own circle of acquaintances that keeps antivenom and I think I know quite a few people who have an incredible amount of experience. If you decide to get and keep antivenom anyway, Good Luck, I hope you never need it. Karl
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RE: A more telling question
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by RYAN_S on December 28, 2000
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Thanks Karl.
You said exactly what I was thinking myself. I was only taking sggestions by having my own supply, in which I see, is pretty useless since my local hospital stocks it and I can obtain exotic AV's through other sources.
Ryan
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RE: A more telling question
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by TIMFRIEDE on December 29, 2000
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Karl, just cause people keep their own av, doesn't mean we plan to get bit. It's responsibility. I keep ven. snakes, and it's not the zoo's, or hosp. job to save my life, I bought the snakes, not the hosp. The reason most people don't have it, is because it's a bitch to get, they give up. Karl, I also know many ven. keepers, and most of us have it. Mistakes can happen, and wouldn't you want to have something that can save you're life in you're house. Or, do you want to depend on someone else to find it in the hosp, while you're dying, or try to call the zoo, and deplete their stock. These have all happened. Ryan, call me Mon., you'll have no more questions. Thanks Karl, but I STRONGLY disagree. Tim
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A Good Point
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by Buzztail1 on December 29, 2000
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Tim,
you have a good point. I am in a position where I can only keep indigenous venomous snakes, so availability at the hospitals in the area is not as big an issue as if I kept Gabbies or Cobras.
I did not mean to imply that you should only keep antivenom if you intended to get bit. Hopefully no-one INTENDS to get bit.
There are other options open to some people when getting their own supply of antivenom is not feasible. Some localities, like Florida, have "Anti-venom Banks" where you pay for a membership and they maintain the anti-venom that you need. We advertised one such bank in one of our past newsletters and I am sure Chris Harper has all the details on file but I can't find my newsletters at the moment.
There is nothing wrong with differing opinions and I hope that I haven't upset anyone with mine. By all means, if you keep hots, you should make plans for the possibility of an accident. However, I still believe that prevention is the best way to go. Karl
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RE: A Good Point
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by TIMFRIEDE on December 29, 2000
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Hey Karl, other opinions are great, that's one way we can all learn. And I totally respect yours. Thanks Karl, Tim.
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RE: and yet another AV question (new one)
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by agkistrodude on July 9, 2007
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I've had several doctors tell me that if a person came into the E.R. with a snake bite and antivenom, the first thing they would do is throw the "so called antivenom in the trash".They have no way of knowing what is is, where it came from,how old it is, how its been stored,etc. and it would be a "malpractice case waiting to happen".But if you could get the doctor to assist you somehow in getting it and have him keep it for you, they all said that might work.
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