My name's Alex and this is my website all about Torrevieja in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Animals and pets in Torrevieja and much more!
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Once again, the Processionary caterpillars are here.I found 3 nests in a small pine tree today, where many people walk their dogs.
If you arer not aware of the potentially fatal result of your dog sniffing, licking or eating these insects, read on.
The Processionary caterpillar is the stage of transformation of the Pine moth. It lives in cocoons, or nests, in Pine trees, and they start to appear as early as January, but this year, are already here. They live on eating the Pine needles, and venture out of the nest they create in the Pine trees here. They emerge during the day, and retreat back to the nests at night, until they suddenly leave the nest, and are either blown off the tree, or walk down the trunk to the ground. They are covered in tiny, but deadly hairs, which they can eject like a porcupine's needles, when alarmed or molested.THE POISON IN THESE CREATURES, AND THOSE HAIRS, WILL BE FATAL TO YOUR DOG IF IT SNIFFS, LICKS OR INGESTS EVEN A FEW OF THE HAIRS, RESULTING IN NECROSIS OF THE FLESH WHERE IT TOUCHES THE ANIMAL WHICH DISTRESSES IT. IF YOUR DOG DOES COME INTO CONTACT WITH ONE, YOU MUST GO STRAIGHT TO THE VET, AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL SAVE YOUR PET. IT FREQUENTLY REQUIRES SURGERY TO REMOVE THE NECROTIS, OTHERWISE IT WILL RAPIDLY SPREAD. PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON...I WAS VERY WORRIED WHEN I TOLD NEIGHBOURING DOG OWNERS/WALKERS, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW.
