My dog has eaten a spider: What to do if you suspect your adorable dog has eaten a spider - what's the worst case scenario?

From late August to early November the chances are you’ll see plenty of arachnids but, luckily, most are completely harmless.

But if you have a pet dog then it’s inevitable that anything scuttling across the floor will cause a certain amount of interest to your four-legged friend.

And it’s not uncommon for a pup to decide that a spider looks like a tasty snack.

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Leah Callaghan, Vet Nurse at Butternut Box, has explained what happens when dogs eat spiders, whether common household spiders pose a risk, which symptoms owners should watch for and when a dog needs veterinary attention.

She explained: “Most of the time, eating a typical household spider isn't something I'd expect to make a dog unwell. Dogs are naturally curious, and many will happily chase or eat things they find around the home; house spiders, daddy long-legs spiders, and the larger garden spiders that tend to wander indoors in autumn are the ones we see most often. The occasional spider is unlikely to cause a problem.

“The main thing is to keep an eye on your dog afterwards, ideally for the next 24 hours. A spider bite or sting, rather than simply swallowing the spider, is more likely to cause noticeable symptoms, particularly if your dog has a sensitivity or encounters a less common species like a false widow. The size of the spider, where your dog was bitten and your dog's individual response all matter too.”

Here’s her advice.

What happens when a dog eats a spider?

If a dog swallows an ordinary household spider, the spider will generally pass through the digestive system within a day or so without causing a problem. You might notice nothing at all, or occasionally some mild digestive upset - a bit of sickness or a softer stool - if your dog has eaten something unusual.

The bigger concern would be if your dog was bitten in the mouth or throat while catching the spider. Owners should look out for swelling around the mouth or face, excessive drooling, hive-like bumps, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, or signs that their dog seems uncomfortable. Facial swelling in particular tends to develop fairly quickly, often within an hour of the bite.

Is eating a household spider dangerous?

For the typical spiders owners find around UK homes, eating one isn't usually a reason to panic. I'd be more concerned about a dog that develops symptoms afterwards than the fact they've eaten the spider itself. Genuinely dangerous reactions are rare in the UK, since we don't have the more venomous species found elsewhere, but individual sensitivities do happen.

If you know your dog has been bitten, or they're showing signs of swelling, breathing difficulty, marked lethargy, repeated vomiting or a sudden behaviour change, I'd contact your vet rather than waiting to see whether things settle. Small or brachycephalic breeds, like French Bulldogs or Pugs, are worth watching more closely if there's any facial swelling, given how quickly that can affect their breathing.

False widows are the species I get asked about most, since they're now fairly widespread in the UK. A bite can cause localised pain and swelling, similar to a wasp sting, but serious reactions are uncommon. As with any bite, I'd still keep an eye out for spreading swelling, signs of infection at the site, or any wider symptoms like lethargy or vomiting.

What should owners do immediately?

If your dog is behaving normally and showing no symptoms, you usually don't need to do anything beyond keeping an eye on them. If they develop facial swelling, difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, weakness or collapse, that's different and requires urgent veterinary advice; don't wait until the next morning if symptoms are progressing.

I'd also avoid putting your fingers into your dog's mouth to try to retrieve the spider. A frightened or uncomfortable dog might bite, and there's usually no benefit in trying to remove something they've already swallowed.

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