My dog ate a Black Widow Spider—what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Black widow spiders are poisonous to dogs.

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Note what was eaten, how much, and when.
Keep your dog calm.
Remove what is left.

Don't

Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Black widow spiders are poisonous to dogs.^[1] Reported signs include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, tremors, and death.

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Drooling
Tremors
Death

Where it is found

North America, except Alaska

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much is dangerous?

Because black widow spiders are poisonous to dogs, call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.^[1]

What signs should I watch for?

Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, tremors, and death.

How soon should I act?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now rather than waiting for signs.

Sources

Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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