At this time of year, those of us who share our lives with our furry friends must be especially careful in the parks. The ‘Thaumetopoea pityocampa’, known as the processionary caterpillar for its peculiar way of moving in rows, represents a risk for our dog companions. These caterpillars build their nests in the tops of pine trees, and when spring approaches, the larvae descend in procession, becoming a threat to our faithful friends. Despite their harmless appearance, they are extremely dangerous…
The danger lies in the stinging spines that cover these caterpillars and which contain a toxin called ‘thaumatopine’. Contact with these thorns can trigger everything from inflammatory and ocular reactions to serious digestive and respiratory problems in our dear four-legged friends. Therefore, let’s take measures to protect our furry friends and avoid unfortunate scares!
Tommaso Piermarini, Veterinary Director of TomVets, highlights the seriousness of these encounters. “A small contact with a processionary caterpillar can become a life or death situation for a dog,” he warns.
Piermarini shares with us a case in which a puppy arrived with difficulty breathing, swelling in the face and tongue after touching a processionary caterpillar in a park… However, thanks to the prompt intervention of his human family, they were able to control and stabilize to the furry one. Goodness!
Piermarini reminds us of the importance of acting quickly at any sign of contact with these caterpillars, without waiting for the symptoms to progress. For this reason, at TomVets, they explain to us what we should do in case our furry friend comes into contact with a…
Friends, let’s protect our furry ones from these caterpillars!
