The processionary moves forward

joly7123

In our blog we have already talked about the dangers of the processionary that affects mainly from spring, but this year it has appeared ahead of time.

The appearance of the processionary, Thaumetopoea Pityocampa, which affects pine, has been brought forward this year as a result of the lack of rain and high daytime temperatures . This unusual climate is causing an advance of the caterpillar, dangerous for people and especially harmful for dogs.

How the processionary affects animals and people
In addition to the damage they cause to the pine, processionary De Cell Number can cause serious health problems for people and animals . Each caterpillar has about 500,000 trichomes throughout its body that, upon contact with the skin, can generate various allergic reactions due to the release of histamine.

The danger of the processionary is found in its stinging hairs , which cause irritation to the ears, nose or throat, as well as strong allergic reactions, which can include respiratory problems and skin rashes.

If these animals sense a threat, they can release these hairs as a form of defense. In the case of animals, if they ingest the insect,  it can be lethal and even occasionally cause death .

The most common symptoms are glossitis (increased size of the tongue) , hyper salivation, facial inflammation, corneal ulcers or vomiting if caterpillars have been ingested, which can progress to more serious injuries such as fever, seizures and anaphylaxis. Lesions, if not treated in time, can ulcerate and cause tissue necrosis (death).



If one of your pets comes into contact with these caterpillars,  do not touch or rub the lesions as the hairs can penetrate deeper into the skin, making treatment difficult and can cause injuries to you as well. If you have a bottle of cold water on hand, you can pour it on the lesions to remove the hair and go immediately to your veterinarian.

In our veterinary clinics in Madrid we have the best professionals who will assist you and take care of your pet's health in the event that it comes into contact with the processionary.

At  The Gorilla Vets Company  our commitment is to make the best human and material resources available to our patients . We seek to improve the well-being of your pet thanks to the quality of our  veterinary services  and the training of our professionals.