My dog ate a Brown Recluse 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. A Brown Recluse Spider is toxic to dogs and can cause severe effects.

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.
Bring the packaging, if there is any.

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

A Brown Recluse Spider is considered toxic to dogs. Severe signs can include vomiting, lethargy, seizures, low blood pressure, and bleeding.

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Lethargy
Seizures
Low blood pressure
Bleeding

Where it is found

Southern Midwest region of the United States
Southern states

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 Brown Recluse Spider is dangerous?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now for guidance on the amount eaten.

What signs should I watch for?

Watch for vomiting, lethargy, seizures, low blood pressure, or bleeding, and call your vet.

How soon could signs start?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet 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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