As spring approaches , we notice it because the days are longer, temperatures begin to rise and the first allergies appear . It is a somewhat annoying stage, but for our dogs it becomes quite dangerous . Walks in the park or the countryside become longer and, with them, some dangers typical of the season that are dragged along the ground.
pine processionary caterpillar dog tips
One of those dangers is the pine processionary caterpillar , Thaumetopoea pytiocampa , that butterfly that in its larva phase ( caterpillar ) forms rows in early spring and that can become a very serious problem for your French bulldog or any other breed of dog . There is really not much you can do against this characteristic caterpillar , so you have no choice but to take some precautions to avoid risks against the evil pine processionary caterpillar.
Tips to avoid problems with processionary caterpillars
#1 Know your biological cycle
pine processionary caterpillar dog tips stinging characteristics
We believe that in order to try to combat any evil , it is best to be well informed, so we are going to explain the biological cycle of the pine processionary . The butterfly lays its eggs in the pines during the spring, which hatch after the summer . The caterpillars will form bags , very small at first, and will feed on the needles during the night .
Once all the larval stages have been completed and with the first warm days after the long winter, the caterpillars descend down the trunk to look for a place to bury themselves and form the chrysalis (this is the most dangerous time). Given the changes in the climate, I would say that the risk period extends from mid-January to the end of May .
#2 Know the stinging characteristics
The stinging power of caterpillars lies in their hairs , which contain a toxic substance called thaumatopein , which upon contact with the skin or mucous membranes is capable of producing a large discharge of histamine, responsible for all injuries .
These hairs cause inflammatory reactions, sneezing and rashes on the skin of dogs, humans and many other mammals. In our friends the dogs the effects are somewhat more unpleasant, since when they come into contact it is usually through rubbing or ingestion . In dogs, necrosis can be seen in the tongue and even inflammation of the throat that has led to the death of some dogs .
#3 Knowing how your dog bites
The characteristic of this caterpillar is that it walks in a straight line, producing movements that are very striking for our dogs, who try to play with them with their front paws, smell them and bite them. If the contact has been with the front limbs only, you will notice that your French bulldog has itching in its front paws and will try to bite or lick them compulsively. As a consequence of this behavior, lesions will occur in the oral cavity.
If the contact has been with the mouth , by trying to lick or eat them, you will notice that your French bulldog presents exaggerated sialorrhea (drooling). In addition, it will present discomfort , as if it had something stuck, and it will try to touch itself with its front limbs, this is due to the intense pain that it will suffer throughout the tongue and gums . There may also have been contact at the eye level, in which case it will present very exaggerated conjunctivitis , with conjunctival edema and inflammation of the eyelid.
A caterpillar sting on your French bulldog’s nose, tongue or mouth can be fatal, as the breathing problems and inflammation this causes can be very serious. If you think your French bulldog may have been stung by a caterpillar, you should rush to the vet.
#4 Knowing how to act in case of a bite
pine processionary caterpillar dog advice consequences
It is very important to keep in mind that humans can also suffer poisoning from contact with the processionary caterpillar , and let’s not forget that the toxin will be found in your French bulldog’s hair, saliva and mouth, so you must take measures to prevent yourself from suffering the same consequences as your dog. If you have some gloves or rags on hand, they could be useful so that you can pick up your French bulldog while avoiding contact with the toxin released by the caterpillars.
It is important to know that your French bulldog may be scared , nervous , itchy and in severe pain , and may even bite you out of desperation. Basically, what you can do is wash your Frenchie’s mouth, eyes, nose and hair on the chin, chest and front limbs with plenty of water , as these are the areas where the greatest amount of stinging substance will be found. It is essential to go to the vet as soon as possible.
#5 Know the consequences
The processionary caterpillar can cause various injuries to your dog , the most frequent are the following, we start with the simplest:
If there is only an itchy lesion on the skin, it will not go beyond a somewhat bothersome dermatitis due to the intense itching that will occur. A secondary infection may occur.
If the lesion is only ocular , it will present intense conjunctivitis which, if it does not present with a corneal ulcer, will not cause major problems. If it presents with a corneal ulcer, its evolution must be assessed, as well as its extension and depth .
If the lesion affects the oral cavity, it will cause glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) which in many cases will develop into necrosis of part of the tongue, which may affect only the tip and in extreme cases the condition may extend to more than 50% of the tongue. Sublingual edema will also occur, both pathologies making swallowing difficult for a few days.
If the injury also affects the oropharynx (throat), there will be more or less severe edema of the glottis, with the resulting difficulty in breathing , which if the owner does not act quickly, can lead to death by suffocation .
If the stinging substance passes into the respiratory tract, such as the trachea, bronchi and lungs, pulmonary edema may occur with respiratory failure and subsequent death of the animal.
If the dog has eaten the caterpillar, stomach problems may occur with vomiting that can sometimes be hemorrhagic.
Unfortunately, there are no repellents for these animals, so the only prevention is to be alert and avoid pine forests . If you suspect that your dog has ingested or been in contact with the processionary, you should go to the vet immediately so that they can assess the extent of the injuries and start the most appropriate treatment.
#6 Precautions you should take
To avoid problems with your dog and this hated caterpillar you should:
Avoid walking your dog in areas with pine and cedar trees during the risk period, especially early spring.
During this same period, increase your attention to what your dog may put in his mouth during the walk .
If you have pine or cedar trees in your garden, carry out preventive fumigation treatments through a specialized company and ask them to do it between September and December.
If you already see pockets in the pines and the risk period is approaching, barrier cones can be installed, which are highly effective.
If branches with pockets are accessible, cut them off and remove them .
Avoid panicking, he is not a good friend in serious situations
Follow these tips and be extra careful during the first warm months after winter. The pine processionary caterpillar is not the only caterpillar that attacks pine trees, but it is the most common. There are other species with different life cycles, so we recommend that you be extremely careful when visiting vast pine forests. One of them is very common in cities: the elm processionary caterpillar , which is characterized by being black with two red dots at the back end, and attacks elms and plum trees.
Remember that your French bulldog’s safety is part of its quality of life, but this principle should not lead you to not let it do anything or to resort to overprotection, which can also be just as harmful. Have you had a bad experience with the processionary caterpillar and would you like to share it? Tell us about it by leaving us a comment. If you found this article useful, don’t hesitate to share it on your social networks so that others can be careful with their dogs.
