What bugs are dangerous if my dog or cat gets bitten or eats them?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is a risk that she may be stung in the throat. If that is the case, she may develop signs of breathing difficulties within a few minutes from eating the bug. If that happened, it should be treated as an emergency. If Myla ate the bug a while ago and she looks fine now, there should not be any problems, she will likely digest the bug.

Some parasites and insects can be carriers of bacteria as well as other infectious agents. However this is not an uncommon behavior in cats and certainly not every cat that eats a bug will get sick. Keeping Pearl on a flea/tick preventative will help prevent some of the more common infections. Be careful about applying any agent to prevent bugs as they can be toxic to cats.

This is not a black widow nor a brown widow, nor a hobo nor yellow sack spider which would be the dangerous spiders in Oregon.. So, while it is likely your kitty was bitten, it is unlikely that there is lasting damage. The poison of this spider likely did hurt or irritate your cat, but she should be fine since the licking and pawing stopped.

Chandler can definitely have a reaction if the spider bites him. Not all cats will have a reaction but some will. I would recommend talking with an exterminator to make sure you can try to get rid of the spiders. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Most bugs will not harm a dog if eaten. In general, the more colorful a bug is, the more toxic it may be. Rinse his mouth thoroughly with cool water for at least 15 minutes. Monitor for lethargy, drooling, swelling or pawing at the mouth. See your veterinarian if any of these symptoms develop.

These spiders can be harmful if they eat them or if they get bitten by one. Here is a link to an article about this issue. Hope it helps to answer your questions: https://www.cuteness.com/article/treatments-whitetailed-spider-bite-cats

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear about your kitties. Most likely is actually other cats, though raccoons or other wild animals are possible. Insect bites/stings rarely cause wounds in cats (the exception being uncommon venomous spiders). Clean all the wounds with dilute iodine or hydrogen peroxide and keep them all indoors until they are fully healed. If any cat seems painful or has a wound that is hot to the touch, painful, or swollen, that cat needs to see the vet for a more thorough cleaning and probably antibiotics. Of course I also suggest that they remain indoor cats if possible to do so. Best of luck to you and the kitties!