How to Tell if a Pet has a Spider Bite
Most spider bites are relatively harmless to people as well as pets. As with people, though, there are two kinds of spiders that can cause serious harm to your pet: black widow and brown recluse. You must be especially watchful of these bites and seek immediate care when you suspect your pet has received one. Here are some signs to watch for.
Instructions
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Inspect your pet for any kind of swellings on the skin. If a spider does bite your pet, it will most likely be on an exposed area of the body, such as the muzzle, paws or belly.
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Look for any kind of unusual lesions on your pet's skin. Brown recluse bites create especially large and ulcerative lesions on the skin, potentially causing a very harmful infection. The initial bite will look something like a blister.
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Pay attention to any localized patches of hair loss, which could be the site of a spider bite.
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Expect a severe reaction if your pet has been bitten by a black widow. Symptoms could include muscle pain or spasms, seizures and paralysis. Drooling is a sign of a black widow bite in cats.
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Note any unusual behavior such as vomiting or excessive thirst. While these are not necessarily signs of a spider bite, they could be.
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Test your pet for things such as fever and joint pain or weakness, as these could be potential indicators of a spider bite.
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Tips & Warnings
Capture the spider you think bit your pet so that you can take it to the veterinarian for identification.
Your pet may also have an adverse reaction to insect stings. While these can cause an allergic reaction such as hives, they are usually harmless and go away within a few days.
Seek immediate veterinary care for your pet if you suspect it has been bitten by a spider, especially a black widow. Although brown recluse bites can be very damaging, a black widow bite is likely to be deadly, especially in smaller pets.
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Comments
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How do you know your dog is having an allergic reation.
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Amanda Lynn Finley Yes, when I brought her to the vets, they had told me that she had a dislocated jaw, bruising on her gums and a tooth missing. She either had a near hit with a car or someone kicked her in the face. She had no other injuries to he body, just her face. :( She's alot better not and as it turned out, she was pregnant at the time too. She had three beautiful babies.
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did they ever find out what it was? see my little lap dog, was favouring one side of his face and constantly licking his chops,
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My cat went outside normal and when I brought her back in hours later, she was completely different it seems. She was trembling, she seemed despondent, refusing to eat and constant flexing of her jaw as long to dislodge something. I haven't been able to see anything in her mouth to guess what it is. Her appointment at the vets is toady at 4. I hope they can help her. She's an eight month old Maine Coon cat.
