That sounds like wonderful news! Continued vibes and prayers for you both. You are doing a fantastic job looking out for him
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YIKES...Brown Recluse Spider Bite
- Thread starter beandip
- Start Date
I was bitten on my hand a couple of summers ago by a brown recluse (yes, they are in Michigan...even though 'they' say they're not!!!) My experience is almost identical to kittymonsters'. After a couple of hours, the bite looked like a big water blister. White and puffy on the edges, red in the center. After a couple more hours, the red turned bluish-purple and the pain was excruciating!!! I went to the ER about 6 hours post bite and they put me on Keflex and Dapsone, and gave me Dilaudid for pain. After about a week, I had an open, weeping wound that went nearly to my tendons. It took well over a month before my hand was healed enough for me to scrub for surgery again (and from what I've read, I had a very short convalescent time!) Another problem I had was a systemic reaction from the toxin. I ended up with renal problems...my creatinine and BUN were elevated about a week later. My joints and muscles seemed to ache also. My renal numbers slowly returned to normal after about 6 weeks, but it might be something that you should talk to your vet about. Especially if he starts to show signs of tissue necrosis. Early treatment in the form of sub-Q fluids could help prevent any acute renal problems from turning into chronic renal failure. Sorry to bring up that nasty possiblity, but, sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry!
I wil definitely keep your sweet Leopold in my prayers for a speedy recovery!
Pookie & the girls
I wil definitely keep your sweet Leopold in my prayers for a speedy recovery!
Pookie & the girls
Originally Posted by beandip
Thanks for checking in.
We just got back from the vet. His mouth looks really good. The vet seems confident that we're out of the woods...she said just finish the antibiotics, make sure he eats, and keep an eye on him in general....call if anything changes. I guess the moral of the story is to get prompt treatment!
He has lost 1/2 lb since Friday. He's been eating but not as much as I would like. Today he did finish his lunch, that's an improvement. Not quite as much drooling today, but I have seen him shake his head a few times...like he does right before he starts drooling.
And yesterday, he didn't even seem to notice the needle when I gave him the shot, so I think I'm getting better at that. I let the vet do it today, though. Had to take advantage of that.
Thanks for your concern, everyone...Leopold and I appreciate it.
Pookie-poo I am so sorry you had to go through this too. I am glad though that you brought up the unexpected systemic consequences too. I don't know if kitties get those type of reactions like we did, but better to keep an eye out for them.
Beandip, please keep us posted. Lots of healing vibes coming to Leopold and calming hugs to you!
What a sweet and good kitty. I hope his recovery continues smoothly, poor baby!
Good luck to you all!
Tricia
Good luck to you all!
Tricia
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #45
Ouch! is an understatement. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Thanks for the tip about the systemic reaction. I will ask the vet about that.
I was very pleased and relieved with his progress so far. I know what you mean about the scale! I weigh these guys weekly...I had not weighed Leopold yet this week, though. I will keep a close eye on that. He finished his dinner last night too, and did pretty well for breakfast. We seem to be on the right track now. Fingers crossed that it continues!!Originally Posted by kittymonsters
this is wonderful news ( except for the 1/2 pound weigh loss...can you tell I am the paranoid weight loss person? My cats now know what the scale is) Eating all his lunch is going in the right direction and no gaping hole anywhere is the best news of all.
I just saw this thread, I am sending Leopold mega {{{{{get well vibes}}}}}. Leopold you are a hero!!!!!
I'm so glad Leopold is doing so well!! I was so afraid for him
and pookie-poo, you have just scared the dickens out of me, I live in northern Ohio and although I had heard they lived in southern Ohio, didn't think they could survive up here
and pookie-poo, you have just scared the dickens out of me, I live in northern Ohio and although I had heard they lived in southern Ohio, didn't think they could survive up here
they do, katie. my friend in highschool
we were cleaning out some junk, and got a bite from one.
we were cleaning out some junk, and got a bite from one.
I was bitten while I was in high school and they are painful. It was in my clothes and I had the dead spider so there was no doubt. I grew up in eastern Kansas though and that is one of the areas where they are supposed to be. I had the immediate allergic reaction, covered with giant hives and trouble breathing, so I got immediate treatment. I didn't get the necrosis or some of the other systemic problems that some people get.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #50
Necrosis or not, it still sounds like a horrible experience!
We're in Kansas too. This was the first real encounter we've had with one of these spiders. It will be the last one if I have anything to say about it!
Up until last week, DH liked to call every spider we see in the house a "common house spider" and every spider we see outside a "common grass spider".
I know two people that were bitten by Brown Recluse spiders and both suffered months recovering.
That's enough of my contribution of the horror stories from me on those nasty things. I'm sure you've been plenty nervous as it is.
It is seeming to me that Leopold is doing exceptionally well in his recovery considering how most mammals have suffered and that's a wonderful thing.
It has me wondering if the good Lord, (when creating his living things), said, " these cats have an extreme amount of curiosity about all things so I will give them a little toxin of their own to combat some of the problems they will get themselves into".
Perhaps it's good he was bitten in the mouth rather than on the leg or foot. Since we all know how loaded a cats mouth is with bacteria, maybe it is helping counteract some of the toxin from the spider. (or not)
At any rate, I really do hope Leopold heals quickly and thoroughly. Fast healing vibes for {({({({({(Leopold)})})})})} and
for you.
That's enough of my contribution of the horror stories from me on those nasty things. I'm sure you've been plenty nervous as it is.
It is seeming to me that Leopold is doing exceptionally well in his recovery considering how most mammals have suffered and that's a wonderful thing.
It has me wondering if the good Lord, (when creating his living things), said, " these cats have an extreme amount of curiosity about all things so I will give them a little toxin of their own to combat some of the problems they will get themselves into".
Perhaps it's good he was bitten in the mouth rather than on the leg or foot. Since we all know how loaded a cats mouth is with bacteria, maybe it is helping counteract some of the toxin from the spider. (or not)
At any rate, I really do hope Leopold heals quickly and thoroughly. Fast healing vibes for {({({({({(Leopold)})})})})} and
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #54
Thanks Trudy.Originally Posted by tru
I know two people that were bitten by Brown Recluse spiders and both suffered months recovering.
That's enough of my contribution of the horror stories from me on those nasty things. I'm sure you've been plenty nervous as it is.
It is seeming to me that Leopold is doing exceptionally well in his recovery considering how most mammals have suffered and that's a wonderful thing.
It has me wondering if the good Lord, (when creating his living things), said, " these cats have an extreme amount of curiosity about all things so I will give them a little toxin of their own to combat some of the problems they will get themselves into".
Perhaps it's good he was bitten in the mouth rather than on the leg or foot. Since we all know how loaded a cats mouth is with bacteria, maybe it is helping counteract some of the toxin from the spider. (or not)
At any rate, I really do hope Leopold heals quickly and thoroughly. Fast healing vibes for {({({({({(Leopold)})})})})} andfor you.
I'm just so surprised (and relieved) that I saw it happen. Now that the worst part seems to be over, I'm seeing some of the more encouraging accounts of other bites. All I could see when I was reading the other day was necrosis, necrosis, necrosis. When the vet told me that "we usually don't have to do surgery"...all I heard was SURGERY!!
I wonder if Leopold learned anything from his experience. He only seemed to have a brief moment of discomfort right away (like a bad taste?)...the real pain came later. So since they learn by association, given the delayed pain - it probably didn't get through to him that the spider caused all that grief.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #55
Well, Leopold's stomach has been iffy all week, presumably from the Baytril. So I had the vet call in an Rx for some chicken flavored Pepcid, and since then - his appetite has increased to almost normal, and I didn't find any vomit to clean up this morning!! The ironic thing is, the Rx isn't even ready yet - I haven't even picked it up! Cats!
The miraculous healing properties of a phone call to the "evil doctor" must have cured his stomach.
I have to do his shot by myself on Sunday and Monday. Tell me I can do it...
I have to do his shot by myself on Sunday and Monday. Tell me I can do it...
you can do it!!!!
The title of thread kept me away for days. DH was telling a story about this spider tonight and I stopped by read the thread. I am so glad that Leopold is doing better. Thank goodness you were there.
Good Luck giving the shots yourself. You can do it!
Good Luck giving the shots yourself. You can do it!
Sending settled tummy vibes for Leopold, ( Zoe is too, she says Baytril is YUCKY, and wishes Leopold would be her boyfriend because he has been so brave)
Also sending lots of "iShots are easy" vibes for you. We know you can do it!
Also sending lots of "iShots are easy" vibes for you. We know you can do it!
You can do it!!Originally Posted by beandip
I have to do his shot by myself on Sunday and Monday. Tell me I can do it...
I lived in a house built in 1884 right over the Kansas border. We found a brown recluse in our recycle bins that we kept in the house. When we bought the house, our real estate agent told us a story of her son living in an old house and getting bit by one.
I'm not saying this to scare you, but perhaps you might want to find a cat safe way to exterminate the unwanted critters in your house. I was always paranoid of spiders at the old house (we actually found a tarantella in the walls once) and calmed down a lot after we moved out.
