A spider bite on a dog is disgusting…the worst part about it is that if you try to get rid of the spider bite by yourself, your dog will take a turn for the worst. Trust me I know. After my girlfriend called me one day and told me our dog was covered in red spots, I headed home immediately. When I arrived, I found that Spider-Man had bitten our dog. The poor creature, named after the superhero Spider-Man, was shaking like a leaf.
Those of you who are dog lovers are familiar with the problems you have to face when your precious pet gets sick. Unfortunately, dogs get more diseases than humans do. This is one of the reasons why vets have their jobs – to help treat pets in need. This article is about spider bites on dogs that can be caused by either a brown recluse spider or a black widow. It is good to know that this condition is not very dangerous for dogs, but if you see your dog with red skin spots and maybe even a black spot on it’s skin, then this might be due to one of these spider bites. Nevertheless, make sure not to ignore any symptoms you think your pet might be having if you suspect it has been bitten by one of these spiders because it can still cause serious sicknesses in bigger dogs and puppies.
Spider Bite On A Dog Pictures
The pictures of dog bites are very scary, but they are also very common in dogs. The bite of a spider can be very painful, but it is not serious. The appearance of the wound is due to the reaction of the body to the bite.
The wound can appear between 5 and 14 days after being bitten by a spider. The dog will have a fever, but this is not serious and will go away after 24 hours.
If your dog has been bitten by a spider and you notice that he has redness or swelling around the area where he was bitten, then it is important that you take him to the vet immediately. This may indicate that there is an infection in his body as well as an allergic reaction to the venom from the spider’s bite.
A spider bite can be a very scary thing for a dog. It can lead to serious illness and even death if not treated in time. Dogs often react to spider bites with pain, swelling and redness around the site of the bite. They may also have a fever and act lethargic or depressed. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, you should immediately take him or her to see a veterinarian.
The following pictures show some of the effects of spider bites on dogs:
Spider Bite On A Dog Pictures
Spider bite in dogs
Spider bites in dogs isn’t uncommon. Once caregivers realise that their dog has been bitten by a spider, the next thing they wonder is how dangerous a spider bite is.
Are spider bites in dogs dangerous?
Although there are non-venomous spiders, out of the 30,000+ species of spiders around the world most of them are venomous. However, most spiders cannot physically penetrate a dog’s skin to insert their poison. The ones that can and that are responsible for the majority of spider bites in dogs are widow spiders and recluse spiders.
Widow spiders are found in tropical and temperate areas. The most common species of widow spiders in the United States is the black widow spider. The most dangerous is the female black widow spider as they are larger and more venomous than males. These spiders are dark grey or black with a red or orange hourglass marking on their abdomen.
Recluse spiders, on the other hand, are common worldwide. The most common species of recluse spiders in the United States are brown recluse spiders. Just like the widow spiders, the female brown recluse spider is larger in size and more venomous than the males. They are yellow-brown in color, with a violin-shaped marking on their back. These spiders are reclusive and not aggressive, but can bite when they feel cornered or trapped.
Learn more in our article about the most venomous spiders in the UK.
What happens when a dog gets bit by a spider?
When a dog gets bit by a spider they will begin developing symptoms within a couple of hours. If they are bitten by a black widow spider they will experience moderate pain and mild redness or swelling. In the following hours, more severe signs may occur.
Small amount of stinging or redness may be noted, and a blister may develop at the site within 2-8 hours.
local inflammation and tissue necrosis (death of certain tissue).
Symptoms of a spider bite in dogs
How do you know that your dog has been bit by a spider and not by another insect? In general, spider bites in dogs will produce only a reddish mark or a slight swelling that is more or less visible. Some dogs may be bothered by it, so they will scratch to try to relieve themselves.
In others, the bites could be complicated by an infection, with which we will detect redness, pus, pain or heat in the area. In the less common cases in which we appreciate other symptoms, these will depend on the causative spider.
To identify a spider bite on a dog, we can observe certain clinical symptoms. These are the signs that appear when the bite is due to an arachnid toxic to dogs:
- Very severe pain at the site of the bite
- Very marked nervousness
- Fever
- Weakness
- Uncoordination
- Paralysis
- Pains in the joints and muscles
- Muscle and abdominal stiffness
- Seizures
- Trouble breathing
- Hypersalivatio
- Vomiting and diarrhea
In the most serious cases, the dog may go into shock and die. The fatal result is usually due to the bite of the black widow. For its part, the brown recluse causes necrosis in the area of the bite.
The main problem is that these symptoms are compatible with various pathologies, so unless we have seen the spider, the diagnosis may take time. This is why it’s important to bring your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Lastly, a small percentage of dogs suffer an allergic reaction to stings that in the most severe cases causes an anaphylactic shock. This is a veterinary emergency that requires immediate assistance.
Image: littlethings.com
Your dog was bit by a spider, what should you do?
Now that you know how to identify a spider bite in dogs, what should you do if you know your dog has been bitten by a spider? Take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
By taking them to the veterinarian you will be able to rule out the most serious and even fatal health issues. Your veterinarian will be able to properly diagnose them and find the best treatment for your dog’s condition.
Your veterinarian will need to act fast and choose the correct medicine for your dog. The recovery usually takes a couple of weeks. In most cases, dogs will need medicine assigned by the veterinarian and additional supportive care. Severe cases that need surgery are rare. 
Image: barkibu.com
Home remedies for spider bites in dogs
Once you have taken your dog to the veterinarian, you can also ask them about some home remedies that can help with the symptoms. These usually imply placing an ice cube wrapped in a cloth on the wound, cleaning the wound so it doesn’t become infected and immobilization using bandages.