Brown Recluse Bites in Pets

Spider bites can be very painful and very dangeorus. There are many spiders with severely toxic venom. The Brown Recluse is one such spider. Rather than having a neurotoxic venom like the Black Widow, this spider has a necrotizing toxin. What this type of toxin does is cause necrosis of the tissue at the site of the bite. In mild cases, there will be a small spot where the bite was and a region about the size of a dime that will die. When the the dog initially receives the bite, it may cause a severe burning sensation at the site of the bite or cause an itching sensation. Either way, it is an uncomfortable bite to receive.

However, in severe cases, the site of the bite can be much worse than in milder cases. The bite will start out very small, and, depending on how much venom was injected into the tissue, the site of necrosis may significantly increase in size. What makes this type of spider bite so difficult to treat is the fact that the tissue continues to necrose. You cannot stop the tissue from necrosing. This makes it very difficult for veterinarians to do debridement and suture the affected area. This is because once the doctor sutures the debrided zone, the skin will continue to die, making it difficult for the suture material to hold the tissue together. As a result, the suture pulls right through the tissue.What many veterinarians may end up doing is lavaging the area (flushing out the wound) and using sugar wraps. Sugar is a natural antibiotic and stimulates the body to form healthy tissue, a process called "granulation of tissue". It may take dozens of wraps before the area heals. The entire process in which the wound is left open is called "healing by secondary intention". Brown Recluse spiders tend to hide in damp wood piles and dark, moist, cool areas. Make sure to keep your pet away from areas such as these. You may also help prevent a situation like this by having your yard sprayed for insects and also your home. The healing process, as you can see from reading above, is very long. In some severe cases, skin grafting may be recommended. The same holds true for humans. If you are bitten by one of these spiders, you will suffer tissue necrosis as well and may end up in the emergency room.