Ex-racing horses and dogs donate plasma to make antivenom, treat young or sick animals

A group of former racing animals destined to be put down are the unlikely heroes behind the antivenoms protecting humans against some of Australia’s deadliest native creatures.

At Plasvacc, in Kalbar in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, a young veterinarian is injecting venom into a herd of donor horses.

It’s a complex process. The amount of venom given to the animals must start at a very low dose, so it takes almost a full year of monthly injections before they…