Puppy bitten by white-tailed spider on the mend

The SPCA is asking pet owners to be on the lookout for insects after a massive ulcer inexplicably formed on a five-week-old puppy's belly, which turned out to be a white-tailed spider bite.

The Jack Russell's owners initially thought someone must have stood on the dog when its stomach started swelling, causing it so much pain it could not walk.

They took it to the SPCA's hospital in Auckland because they could not afford to pay for vet fees.

A vet could find no internal damage nor visual marks but the puppy continued to deteriorate and it was not until an area of the stomach became reddened and it started to form an ulcer that the cause became apparent. Within hours a pus-engorged ulcer had grown to cover most of the terrier's stomach.

SPCA Auckland senior vet Peter McQueen said the wound was consistent with a white-tailed spider bite on a human and it responded to the treatment accordingly.

SPCA marketing manager Martin McKenzie said the puppy, which staff named Willie, was on the way to recovery and enjoying playing with his new foster parents' other dog.

"Swelling has reduced and the ulcer starting to react to the antibiotic treatment. Willie needed a catheter for a while and a lot of fluid had to be drained from the ulcer, and unfortunately he will still require some reconstructive surgery to repair skin damage from the wound.

"But I'm pleased to say we should see a happy little puppy back to normal health shortly."

While spider bites are not a common problem in New Zealand, the SPCA encouraged pet owners to be aware of possibilities and to shake out their dogs' blankets and clean their baskets regularly.

- NZPA