This morning I walked out of my house anticipating the cool Oregon morning breeze—which I love—and took a deep breath in. Instead of fresh air, I wound up with a mouthful of spider web. It is that time of year—when spiders are everywhere both inside and out. And while I don’t have a particular aversion to spiders (unless they’re big and hairy) I am aware of the difficulty they can cause my Pets.
If your Pet is bitten by a spider or other insect, they may experience side effects—from mild to extremely severe. Reactions often occur around the face because Pets have a tendency to try to eat bugs. Here are a few things to be vigilant of this time of year:
- Mild swelling , which you should watch closely and contact your veterinarian to discuss
- Any rapid swelling—especially around the face—could be indicative of a more serious reaction and requires immediate veterinary medical attention to help prevent the swelling from impairing your Pet’s ability to breathe.
- If your Pet is stung by a bee, attempt to remove the stinger and if any swelling is noted, consult your veterinarian immediately
There are also some precautions you can take if you’d like to reduce the likelihood of attracting spiders into your home
- Keep bushes, trees and other vegetation away from the house so it is not easy for spiders to step into your windows or doors
- Check the foundation and other areas of the outside structure of your home for any cracks that spiders can slip through. If you find any, these should be sealed with caulking or other appropriate materials.
- Vacuum up any cob webs or spider webs inside as well as those attached to the outside of your house. If the outside is not easy to vacuum, try using a broom to get rid of the webs.
- Spiders prefer covered areas, so they’re drawn to clutter. They can often be found in piles or pieces of clothing not put away (guilty), stacks of papers (guilty), and empty boxes. Curtains and drapes should also be checked and vacuumed to reduce spider hide-outs.
- Drafts by windows or doors also attract spiders so you may want to address those as well.
If you consider spraying to reduce or eliminate spiders or other insects, it is important to make sure any product you use is non-toxic to Pets and people.
If your Pet experiences any condition outside of the norm, it is best to contact your veterinary team to discuss.
