“Bites Are Going to Increase”: SA Vet Warns of Snake Antivenom Shortage As Snake Season Begins
- A South African vet with over a million TikTok followers has issued an urgent warning to dog owners ahead of snake season
- The video comes amid reports of dogs dying on the way to a second clinic after the first had no antivenom in stock
- Viewers flooded the comments with strong opinions, with some calling for snakes to be culled entirely
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Source: UGC
A South African veterinarian is sounding the alarm after a shortage of snake antivenom left at least one dog owner in a desperate race against time, only to lose their pet before reaching a second clinic.
Amir, the vet behind the popular TikTok account @amirthevet, posted a selfie-style video from inside his vehicle on 25 October 2026, wearing scrubs and a stethoscope. With bold on-screen text reading "SHORTAGE of Snake Antivenom In South Africa‼️🇿🇦," he urged dog owners to take precautions as the country heads into its warmer, more snake-active months.
"Anti-venom is extremely important when it comes to treating snake bites because without it many dogs simply do not survive," he said in the clip, which quickly gained traction across South African social media.
With 1.1 million followers and nearly 100 million likes on his account, Amir's warning reached a wide audience. He advised pet owners to avoid walking dogs in the early morning or at dusk, to keep animals on clear paths rather than near bushes or fallen logs, and to never allow dogs to roam freely in areas where snakes are likely to shelter.
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"Dogs do not run away from snakes; they fight snakes," he explained, noting that this is why most bites occur on the face or paws.
The antivenom supply situation in South Africa has been a recurring concern. Local production by the National Health Laboratory Service and South African Vaccine Producers resumed in late 2025 following earlier disruptions caused by facility upgrades and power-related halts. During the gap, imported alternatives such as Panaf-Premium from India were brought in under Section 21 authorisation. While supplies are now stabilising, stock levels continue to vary between facilities.
Watch the vet's urgent warning to South African dog owners:
SA reacts to the warning
The video on the TikTok page drew hundreds of comments, with many viewers reacting with a mix of alarm, dark humour, and ecological debate.
@Lwezi suggested a blunt solution:
"How about killing the snakes instead of returning them to the wild... until we stock up on antivenom?"
@Yimi Lo simply wrote,
"Snakes should be extinct."
Not everyone agreed.
@Ameera 🏍🇿🇦🇵🇸 pushed back:
"I don't think people understand how important snakes are to our ecosystems."
Others questioned the video's focus.
@wouter 🇿🇦 wrote,
"Dog! What about me? My poor heart,"
@Makgoshi asked
"Why are you only worried about the dogs😂😭"
@Sibzy-thestoryteller 🇿🇦 raised a practical concern:
"Is the antivenom shortage for animals only or all anti venom for everyone is at a shortage?"
@aielon_musk had a more creative take, simply asking:
"How to make an anti-venom?"
More on snakes in South Africa
- Briefly News recently reported that snake catcher Jonas caught a black mamba measuring more than 2 metres in Lephalale.
- A Cape cobra trapped beneath concrete forced a snake catcher to bring in a jackhammer during a dramatic rescue.
- A video of a hooded cobra reversing into a building crack amused South Africans, while others worried about the snake entering homes.
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Source: Briefly News
