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Monitoring spider bits5/8/2024 ![]() This spider is brown, with a darker, violin-shaped area on its back, with the “neck” of the violin facing away from the head of the spider. If a brown recluse spider bites your dog, this is an emergency. Dogs may spend two to three days hospitalized if they’re bitten by black widows, and they may take weeks to months to fully recover. For this reason, antivenom (when available) is reserved for the most serious cases. An antivenom is available but few veterinarians stock it, plus it can cause severe anaphylactic reactions in some dogs. That can include IV fluids, muscle relaxers, pain medication, medications to combat seizures, and anti-nausea medication. Treatment is mostly supportive, meaning it focuses on treating the symptoms. ![]() However, there is no definitive test to diagnose a black widow bite specifically. No home treatment is available.īlood tests may reveal an elevated enzyme called creatine kinase, which can be indicative of muscle damage caused by the venom. If you suspect your dog has been bitten by a black widow, consider it an emergency and contact your veterinarian immediately. The severity of the bite depends on many factors, including how big the spider is, how small the dog is, whether the dog is very old, very young, or otherwise sick, and the bite location.
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