Spiders, Ants and Bees – OH MY!

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Lynne Hudlow

I heard on a talk radio show yesterday a very animated conversation about how people react to spiders— they’re pretty much afraid of them. The discussion revolved around how frightening it could be if a spider were to appear in bed or on the wall near your bed while you were trying to sleep. Then, even more concerning is the appearance of the bruise that could be the result of a spider bite. Not only is the bruise bad visually and the bite uncomfortable, but mentally you might have a long term reminder of the big bad spider that bit you.

Pets, however, seem to have a fascination with spiders and many other bugs or critters. Spiders and ants can enter a Pet’s focus while scurrying across the floor, up a wall or just hanging out on a window. For Pets, bees may make fascinating subjects as well with their speedy flight all over the yard and even in your house.

So while the average Pet owner is likely not to be a bug enthusiast, your Pet may very much wind up being a “bug-stalker.” If so, hopefully your Pet does not feel the need to share their “prize catch” with you by dragging them inside for approval.

If you do have a bug stalker at home, keep an eye out for hazards like spider bites or bee stings that could cause swelling on the face or other areas of the body .The swelling is a sign of an allergic reaction which requires attention. Bites and stings that swell should be seen by your Pet’s veterinarian for swelling relief and since every Pet feels pain differently your Pet may need medical assistance for pain relief as well.

While Pets can “learn their lesson”, it is likely that if your Pet has a high drive to hunt bugs, one sting or bite may not deter their interest in future hunts. Once you know what to look out for you can be prepared to help your Pet deal with any discomfort or trouble that might arise.



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