Not all animal owners know the dreaded pine processionary, but veterinarians know well what animal it is, because it causes some terrible allergic reactions and hives to those who come into contact with them. As owners we must know this animal and above all avoid the environments in which it may be, because they can be very dangerous for the dog.
When the cold ends and gives I start spring, is when these animals appear. The pine processionary is very recognizable and also we only find it in places where there are pine trees, so in principle, if we avoid these places, we should not have any problem.
The processionary is a type of caterpillar that has more than 500.000 hairs that they are like a poisoned dart, each one of them. These hairs can cause allergic reactions, hives, and even airway problems. It cannot be said that we have a specific place where there is a processionary, because it has been found throughout the Peninsula and in the Balearic Islands, almost like a plague.
These caterpillars are in the pines, and they can be recognized because they look like spider webs in the shape of balls on the branches. When the caterpillar comes down from the pine it does so in a characteristic way, hence its name, since it does so as if it were in a procession, one after another. If we see them somewhere, it is best not to approach or touch them, and much less to approach the dog.
The problem comes when the dogs, exploring, touching and even they try to eat some caterpillar. There have been such strong infections that the dog's life has been in danger. If we see that there is a processionary in an area where we walk with the dog, the best we can do is avoid it during the spring months and look for environments where we do not have pine trees.