Snake vemon

[joe1]

We were discussing this .............

If you or an animal ate the head of a venomous snake what effect if any would the venom have? ie. does it have to be injected into bloodstream?

[Goodsoulette]

Ingesting snake venom, be it by drinking or however would not be poisonous to you. Venom has to directly enter your blood stream to kill you. Your body stomach would just break it down as normal. You cant guarantee that it cant get into your blood stream on the way to your tummy though, I suppose.

[wildwood]

Yes, it does have to be injected into the bloodstream. Venomous snakes are part of the diet of many animals who chomp away on them without any harm Even a fox will have an adder if the snake is slow or sick.
If you are concerned about the snake's fangs, they will also breakdown and do not contain venom. The venom is injected through channels in the fangs, but stored in sacks in the top of the jaw.