As a pet owner, seeing your beloved animal in pain or feeling under the weather is heartbreaking. One couple has asked for help to identify the culprit after their dog was bitten by a spider
While out and about, dogs and cats are often bitten by insects and occasionally even by other animals and although most of these nibbles are harmless, occasionally something comes along that can leave lasting damage.
One couple has taken to social media for advice from bug experts after they discovered a bite on their dog’s paw. When he fell ill with seizures and vomiting, they then found a large spider lurking in his bed. Sharing the images, they frantically asked if anyone recognised the species and whether or not it could be the cause as the vet seemed to think the two were unrelated.
Explaining what had happened, the couple penned: “Our dog started licking his paw and becoming lethargic followed by not wanting to jump on any couches or use pet stairs. Some trembling and shaking as well. We checked his paws and noticed some slight soreness by his toes but he is quite hairy so couldn’t locate anything specific and gave it a few days to see if he would improve.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.
“Took him to his regular vet on Friday as he began to whine more, and they took note of the soreness in the paw and they identified what looked to be a spider bite and administered silver nitrate and prescribed gabapentin. Got sent home. A few hours later at home, after having slightly more energy, he vomited and then had a seizure in my arms (super traumatic for me).
“Rushed him back to the hospital where they found he was experiencing anaphylaxis and had to give him a steroid shot to save his life. My husband checked the couch where he usually sleeps and found a large black spider. We haven’t been able to identify it but it looks nasty and likely the culprit.
“Vet told me the seizure and the spider bite are not related. That seems ridiculous to me as he has never had seizures before. He is a small 13lb 4-year-old Shih tzu and otherwise healthy. Any additional advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. We are worried sick.”
People on the post were quick to answer and assured the couple that the spider they’d found was innocent and was neither poisonous nor aggressive. One user replied: “Pretty sure this is just a black/dark colored thin-legged wolf spider (Pardosa). Wouldn’t make your dog sick, and probably wouldn’t bite it.”
And someone else replied: “My hunch is a Hacklemesh Weaver, Callobius sp. Again, it probably wouldn’t make your dog sick but the bite is like a bee sting so he could have had an allergic reaction.”
Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]
