For those who don't know, the pine caterpillar is an insect whose main host is the pine (tame or wild).

Between January and May, they leave the pine tree to bury themselves in the ground to continue their development and between August and September the caterpillars are born, which gather in nests in the pine tree canopy.

For this reason, the time of greatest frequency of problems due to contact with the pine caterpillar in our animals is the beginning of spring, when the insects fall from the trees and burrow into the ground.

We must be attentive to find out if our animal has had contact with one of these insects, which can cause serious problems.

These caterpillars, due to their receptacles with stinging hairs, are quite harmful as they inject toxic substances into the skin or mucous membranes, causing hypersensitivity reactions, which can cause necrosis or even be fatal. For this reason, when we see pine caterpillar nests, we must take the necessary control measures.

How to know if our animal licked or was bitten by the pine caterpillar?

main symptoms

• Increase in the volume of the tongue (the most affected organ) that may turn bluish and with the evolution areas of necrosis appear;
• Facial swelling (swollen muzzle);
• Excessive salivation;
• Difficulty ingesting;
• Intense itching of the face;
• vomiting;
• Apathy;
• Lack of appetite;
• Difficulty picking up food.

But attention, if we suspect that our animal has licked or been bitten by a pine caterpillar, we must go to the veterinarian immediately . In this case, early assistance may be essential.