Concern is growing in Simon's Town, South Africa, after three dogs died over 10 days following suspected puff adder bites, highlighting worries in the Cape Town suburb about tight antivenom supplies.
Here's what to know
Cape Town reptile handler Will De Meyer told IOL that all three dogs died after bites reported on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, with a third fatal bite during the same 10-day span.
In the first case, he said, the owners set out for Bellville after learning the closest vet could not supply antivenom, but the dog did not survive the journey.
"Puff adders are coming out in numbers around this time of the year," De Meyer said, per IOL.
He said bites can bring on facial swelling and bleeding from the gums within about 10 minutes. He added that dogs usually handle snakebite better, but these cases appeared to involve larger snakes.
More background
In Simon's Town, De Meyer said puff adders can be especially hard to notice in places like gardens, rocky areas, long grass, and along pathways where dogs may wander.
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Domestic pets are encountering snakes in suburban environments, where landscaping and everyday foot traffic can bring animals into close contact with hidden wildlife.
IOL cited a July 2026 stakeholder communication from National Health Laboratory Service CEO Prof Koleka Mlisana, writing on behalf of the South African Vaccine Producers, an NHLS subsidiary, saying polyvalent antivenom was out of stock with new supply expected on Oct. 31, per IOL.
Another Western Cape snake handler, Steve Meighan, founder of Deep South Reptile Rescue, said that antivenom access has been a concern for years and that he has repeatedly raised questions about supply, IOL reported.
What's being done?
Local snake rescuers are trying to lower the immediate risk by warning residents and pet owners. De Meyer also used social media to alert Simon's Town residents and urge extra vigilance amid higher puff adder activity.
He told owners to keep dogs away from snakes and to call an expert instead of trying to catch or kill one. Because puff adders can be hard to spot in yards and along paths, a dog encounter can become a medical emergency within minutes.
Mlisana's July communication also said Echis, boomslang, and scorpion antivenoms remained available even though polyvalent stock was still depleted.
IOL Media said it contacted the NHLS on Oct. 9 for updated information on antivenom stock levels, but repeated follow-up attempts received no response.
Mlisana wrote in the July communication, "Antivenom manufacturing is an intricate and highly specialised process that demands precision, rigorous testing, and strict quality assurance."
Where can I learn more?
For more on the dangers puff adders pose and how snakebites are treated, these stories offer helpful context.
• Across southern Africa, puff adders have the highest bite rate among venomous snakes.
• On a California hike, a husky mix needed two vials of antivenom after a rattlesnake bite.
• Scientists say venomous snakes in coming years could spread widely as the planet warms.
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