Scorpions Poisoning in Dogs

Scorpions are eight-legged arachnids that are commonly characterized by their curved tail that curves up and over their back. Scorpions can be found all over the world except for Antarctica, and many of the scorpions in the United States are in the southwest regions. Scorpions live in dry climates that are warm, namely California, New Mexico, and Arizona. They are known to be present in tropical and subtropical countries, and can live in rainforests, savanna, temperate force, caves, grasslands, and some species of the scorpion even live in snowy, mountainous regions.

Every scorpion has venom and uses it to paralyze prey in order to kill it. Contrary to popular belief, scorpions usually kill their prey by using force rather than venom. The venom of the scorpion is not considered to be life-threatening to humans or animals, but it does kill smaller prey. Scorpion venom is made up of enzyme inhibitors, neurotoxins and other compounds, is stored in sacs of glands, and is only released by the scorpion at specific amounts. There are over 1,000 species of this arachnid.

Even though the venom of the scorpion is not so toxic, it does cause pain and side effects. There is one species of scorpion known as the C. exilicauda that is highly poisonous with its venom affecting the central nervous system. This scorpion is commonly located in the very dry, southwest regions of the United States.

Scorpions poisoning in dogs occurs when the venom of the scorpion penetrates into the dog after the sting. The compounds that make up the venom cause it to be poisonous.

Symptoms of a scorpion sting vary from mild to severe. Symptoms include:

• Pain
• Change in behavior
• Difficulty breathing
• Drooling
• Pupil dilation
• Vomiting
• Excessive urination
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Arrhythmia
• Hypertension
• Collapse

Types

There are certain species of scorpion that are much more venomous than others. These types are:

• Arizona bark scorpion, found in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, and Mexico
• Fat-tailed scorpion, found in Asia
• Brazilian yellow scorpion, found in Brazil
• Death Stalker, found in Israel

The cause of scorpions poisoning in dogs is the toxic venom of the scorpion injected into the dog. The scorpion venom causes poisoning by:

• The venom of the scorpion consists of a tiny protein chain, known as chlorotoxin
• The chlorotoxin prohibits any chloride ions from penetrating the muscle cells, and causes paralysis

If you suspect your dog has been stung by a scorpion, call your veterinarian. If you are unsure that your dog has been a victim of the scorpion, but you live in a part of the country wHere scorpions are prevalent and your dog is exhibiting the symptoms of a scorpion sting, once you get to the veterinarian he will be able to assess your dog by looking at the clinical signs. He will do a complete physical examination; however, scorpion venom does not show up in blood testing. One definitive way to prove your dog has been stung is the stinger is still in place. The veterinarian, after assessing the dog’s symptoms, will come to a diagnosis based solely on those symptoms.

Luckily, in most cases, scorpion stings are not fatal. The veterinarian will keep a careful watch of any muscle tremors, high blood pressure, or any heart irregularities. Treatment includes:

Cleansing

Once the stinger is removed, the wound will need to be cleaned.

Pain Medication

Pain medication will be given to lessen the irritation and swelling from the sting.

Fluids

In order for the dog to remain hydrated during the treatment process and to encourage urination, fluids will be given intravenously. This also helps with any edema, or swelling, that can occur at or around the site of the sting.

Most scorpion stings have a good prognosis if treatment was administered in a timely fashion. If your dog was stung by a scorpion and treated, the veterinarian will explain his prognosis and what you need to do for him at home. To prevent scorpion stings in the future, especially if you reside in a climate where scorpions live, be sure to occupy your dog outside or keep him contained while keeping an eye on him. Roaming dogs that live in a climate that has scorpions have a greater risk of getting stung, while not in your sight. Since it is important to take your dog to the veterinarian soon after a scorpion sting, owners of roaming dogs may not find out they were the victim of the sting until they become very ill.