Make antidote more available

Sir, - I have already written about the problem with adders in Scotland and the damage they do to working dogs, sheep and cattle.

Last weekend was a classic. I had three working dogs bitten on the same day in the same area and there was a lack of antivenom.

I had a dog bitten two years ago and could not find any antivenom because the EU banned the Zagreb vaccine and the replacement antivenom, ViperaTab, was in short supply and only available to the NHS in the UK.

I purchased an adult dose in Sweden as a future insurance and had my vet get an import licence. This has been held in a controlled environment since.

It was all used on Saturday morning and none available for the third working dog in the afternoon. It went to Glasgow for intensive care.

The NHS hold ViperaTab antiserum at all accident and emergency departments. I believe they then destroy most of the product as it passes its sell-by date.

They will not release to a vet and the use-by date is challenged by many. The product can be kept in a temperaturecontrolled environment.

Why can our medical services not get together and work out a way forward? It might even help to fund some of the NHS shortfall and stop unnecessary suffering or death of working dogs and pets.

George Sangster. Woodlands, Logie, Montrose.