Just thought I'd pass on a bit of a story that happened recently. My dog, a 7 year old lab, cadaver detector, is usually a ball of energy. One morning two weeks ago (it was still dark), I put him in the car to go to work, he just didn't seem to be himself. I noticed on the drive to work, about a 30 minute drive, he just layed on the floor of his cage and didn't bother me for his morning sausage biscuit (we share a little). When I got to work I let him out like normal, he walked to a bush peed, got back in the car, very odd for him. I got him back out and started to take a look and notice 6 spots on his side, about the size of a dime. The hair was gone and there was a hard knot under the skin. Concerned, I called the vet and told him I was on my way in. When the vet examined him, we noticed the left side of his muzzle was extremely painful to touch, so the vet knocked him out to inspect his teeth, gums etc. Not finding anything, he did take a biopsey of one of the dime sized areas, gave him some benedryl and antibiotics. Three days later, the lab report came back that the sites were an insect bite, probably a spider. During the time that he was ill, I had been keeping him in the house, where he just layed around. After the call from the vet, I went to his kennel and gave it a thorough cleaning. Mind you his kennel and house are always clean. During the cleaning, I found a black widow spider, hiding in a crevice of his house, on the bottom. His kennel is an Igloo type. The spider is dead, the area has been nuked with bug killer, the dog is mended and all is well. Who knew?

DFrost

Holy crap, that sucks.

Holy crap, that sucks.

Hi David,

I had a very similar experience with my old female rottie, Belle Starr. One morning my husband took her for a walk in our nearby woods and within a few minutes of their return she was running a high temperature, was nauseated and very ill. I took her straight to the vet who would not believe that she had become so ill so quickly. They put her on IV drips for a serious infection and the next afternoon I was able to bring her home as her temperature was down and I could continue antibiotics at home. I did notice that her right shoulder and leg looked a bit puffy but was assured that some of the fluids used in the IVs had settled there. Well, the next day (Sunday) her face, ear, shoulder and leg were very swollen. I saw a watery drainage from her shoulder and when I touched the area bloody fluid gushed out. This drainage kept up all day and the next AM I was able to see the other vet at the clinic and she immediately said that Belle had been bitten by a venomous spider.

Belle still has a hard lump where she was bitten. And from this experience I now know what to look for in regards to spider bites and which vet to ask for at the clinic.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Glad to hear your guy is doing better!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I use the Igloo type doghouse too - I guess I never really thought about "creatures" hiding under the bottom... - he is not outside that often as he is inside a majority of the time but I will make sure I check under there in the future...thanks for sharing your story...

My daughters Pit still has a bald spot the size of a quarter on her side from a Brown Recluse bite two years ago. I've seen hunt terriers have less reaction from copperhead bites than from spiders.

What parts of the counrty have Black Widow spiders? Are there any other spiders venemous enough to cause such serious illness in dogs? I HATE spiders

Black Widows are just about everywhere. I'm not sure, but I don't think The Brown Recluse is west of the Rockies. Rehabbing houses, I see Recluse spiders all the time. Most people would be amaized how many have them in their own house. The're seldome seen because they are reclusive, hence the name.
Sleep tight! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I lived in massachusetts for 20 years and have never seen a black widow there, but have seen occasional recluses. I live in florida now and have seen black widows here though. If I'm not mistaken they can take us down just as quick as our dogs.

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I HATE spiders

ME TOO!!

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Black Widows are just about everywhere. I'm not sure, but I don't think The Brown Recluse is west of the Rockies. Rehabbing houses, I see Recluse spiders all the time. Most people would be amaized how many have them in their own house. The're seldome seen because they are reclusive, hence the name.
Sleep tight!

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seen black widows here though. If I'm not mistaken they can take us down just as quick as our dogs.

Thanks Guys - I didn't reeeeeeaaaaally like sleeping at night anyway... :rolleyes: <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />