- Check for a Stinger in the Wound. …
- Use a Cold Compress to Help with Swelling. …
- Apply Paste of Baking Soda and Water to the Wound. …
- Give Your Dog an Oatmeal Bath. …
- Apply Aloe Vera Gel to the Bite. …
- If Safe, Give Your Dog Benadryl.
Our canine friends are often irresponsible when exploring their environment. And with some spider species in the United States, this can result in a web of problems. The good news is that, unless a rare allergic reaction happens, most spider bites on dogs don’t pose a serious health threat. We’ll explain the symptoms to look out for with mild to severe spider bites, how to relieve pain at home, when it’s necessary to seek immediate veterinary care, and much more.
Which spiders are associated with problematic spider bites?
There are more than 30,000 species of spiders in the world, and the majority of them are venomous. However, due to their small mouthparts’ inability to pierce the skin, most spiders are unable to cause medically significant envenomations (the process by which venom is injected into an animal).
The two groups of spiders responsible for most medically-significant spider bites include the widow spiders (Latrodectus spp., including the black widow spider) and the recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp., including the brown recluse).
Widow spiders are found in tropical and temperate areas worldwide. The black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans), the most prevalent of the five Latrodectus species found in the United States, is one of these. Dark grey to black in color, with an hourglass-shaped red or orange marking on their round abdomen, female black widows are significantly larger and more venomous than males. Although immature female black widows lack this coloration and are instead red, brown, or beige in color, they are still able to venom.
Recluse spiders are found worldwide, in dark, warm places. The most notable of the six Loxosceles species found in the United States is the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa). Male and female brown recluse spiders differ in size and venom content. Brown recluse spiders have a violin-shaped marking on their back and are yellow-brown in color. Although these spiders are shy and not aggressive, they have been known to bite when cornered or trapped (for example, when accidentally laid on an animal or when caught between the animal and its bedding).
How does spider venom produce these effects?
Because the venom of the brown recluse and black widow spiders differs significantly from one another, the outcomes of these two spider bites vary greatly.
Black widow spider venom contains a neurotoxin. Due to the massive neuronal excitation brought on by this substance, black widow envenomation produces the muscle tremors and other symptoms that are observed.
Contrarily, a variety of substances found in the venom of brown recluse spiders cause local tissue effects. Sphingomyelinase D, which prevents blood clotting at the bite site, is present in the first portion of brown recluse venom. The bite victim is then given more toxins, which all help to cause localized inflammation and tissue necrosis (death).
What Do Spider Bites Look Like on Dogs?
According to Brian Roberts, DVM, a regional medical director for VCA Animal Hospitals and a board-certified veterinary criticalist, most spider bites will not appear any different from any other insect bite. Unless your dog experiences an allergic reaction, in which case you’ll likely notice a pink or red bump, hives, and a swollen face instead However, a lesion left behind by a bite from a poisonous brown recluse spider changes color over time.
FAQ
What does spider bite look like on a dog?
Within 2 to 8 hours, a small amount of stinging or redness may be noticed, and a blister may form there. This blister frequently turns into a “bulls-eye” lesion, which is characterized by a red circle encircling a pale area that will eventually turn dark from tissue death.
What do vets do for spider bites?
In some circumstances, using antibiotics to help the body fight infection may be necessary. Most bites heal in three weeks or less. Complications and fatalities from a dog’s Brown Recluse spider bite are extremely uncommon. In severe cases, surgical treatment may be required for the wounds, and permanent scarring is a possibility.
What does a spider bite look like on a dogs leg?
Unless your dog experiences an allergic reaction, in which case you’ll likely notice a pink or red bump, hives, and a swollen face instead However, a lesion left behind by a bite from a poisonous brown recluse spider changes color over time.
What happens if my dog gets bit by a spider?
Unless your dog experiences an allergic reaction, most spider bites are not harmful. Usually, a spider bite will leave your dog with minor swelling, itchiness, redness, or irritation. Only the black widow and the brown recluse spiders are dangerous to people and animals in North America.