I have been bitten by a brown recluse and am suffering from the effects of the toxin. Dog also can have a reaction to bites by this spider. There are lots of stories and pictures – awful pictures- of the damage that this spider bite can create.
If you are not familiar with the brown recluse spider, she is one that should hit your “radar screen”. The spider is light tan in color and has long legs. It likes dark, quiet spaces like under your bed, in the back of closets, in cupboards that are really used. Fortunately, they are “RECLUSIVE”, meaning that they don’t like light and activity.
But they do move at night and they need to go to water which is probably why most folks are bitten in their beds as they sleep.
For me, the spider bite woke me up. Not as intense a wasp sting but quick and sharp. By morning the area was swelling and itchy. By Noon, the wound had a small head on it and was feeling bad. The pain at the site of the bite was beginning to get intense.
Not every is sensitive to the toxin from this spider but if you think you have been bitten by a spider and you start to have this reaction, it is wise to go immediately to the doctor. Although there is no treatment to counteract the effect of the toxin, antiobiotics mya help keep down the secondary infections that can happen as your skin begins to die off. Out of control, this toxin can lead to the need for surgery and skin grafts.
The same is true for our dogs. The wound appears to have the same appearance and the dog gets very depressed. A vet should be in the loop for advise and support about how to help the dog through this “toxic event”
Outside these spiders like dark places like the inside of dog houses that haven’t been used in a while. Or forgotten corners of the garden..
While there are “zillions” of these creatures out there, it is still a rare event when they bite a dog or a person but when they do, it can be a very dangerous health issue. Be aware!
i was wondering how i can help heal my dog after getting bit i think from a spider.
Dog’s have powerful immune systems which should help! When I was bite, I received small doses of steroids.. and an antibiotic.
Personally I took colostrum (an immune booster) and Vitamin C
I lost my appetite – what I eat was important to my body.
I would try and feed my dog organic chicken and rice – organic baby food like sweet potatoes. When the body is fighting a huge infection it does not need any more toxins – so go organic and bland…
My husband was kind enough to apply baking soda poltice to the wound once or twice a day. The wound is exremely painful so I wound not recommend cleaning it or messing with it.. The baking soda paste just helps to draw the poision – If the wound heads up as the poision is contained.. I would not break the blister.. let them break. no kidding this is really painful.. it felt like someone was stabbing me with a knife repeatedly in the leg. I couldn’t stand to have it touched anywhere around the site of the bite. I went into a low energy, sleeping state for about 4 days. Good nursing care.. is a must.. provide water and try and keep the dog hydrated.. Hope this helps… Hope it wasn’t a brown recluse.. they produce wicked wounds!!
Good luck