Spider MD

[YungRasputin]

could we get a running list of all known veterinary issues related to arachnids?

 

[Stardust1986]

could we get a running list of all known veterinary issues related to arachnids?

Diskonetic syndrome is the main concern, bad molts, and constipation

 

[YungRasputin]

Diskonetic syndrome is the main concern, bad molts, and constipation

those are what immediately came to mind for me as well - along with “sunken stomach”

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Fecal Impaction
Nematodes
Parasitic mites
DKS
Ulcerations on underside of abdomen
Growths/ deformities of abdomen
Dysecdysis
Obesity
Dehydration
Sucking stomach problems
Spider fly infestations
Fungal infections
Bacterial infections
Paralysis from tarantula hawk venom

that's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure there are more topics.

 

[Dorifto]

A bad keeper, is the most lethal one.

 

[YungRasputin]

Fecal Impaction
Nematodes
Parasitic mites
DKS
Ulcerations on underside of abdomen
Growths/ deformities of abdomen
Dysecdysis
Obesity
Dehydration
Sucking stomach problems
Spider fly infestations
Fungal infections
Bacterial infections
Paralysis from tarantula hawk venom

that's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure there are more topics.

woah! many thanks for this!

A bad keeper, is the most lethal one.

this is true but would counter that all lethal issues are the most lethal

 

[Dorifto]

In that case cordyceps, lethal beauty.

 

[YungRasputin]

In that case cordyceps, lethal beauty.

hands down one of the most disturbing things in nature - saw that in a Attenborough doc

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Horsehair worms are pretty disturbing too...and how they alter the nervous system of the host causing it to drown itself in order the complete the parasite's life cycle. Fascinating but utterly disgusting. Cordyceps is such a strange thing too. When I first saw an article about it my jaw was on the floor.

 

[YungRasputin]

Horsehair worms are pretty disturbing too...and how they alter the nervous system of the host causing it to drown itself in order the complete the parasite's life cycle. Fascinating but utterly disgusting. Cordyceps is such a strange thing too. When I first saw an article about it my jaw was on the floor.

ja that’s definitely up there with the cordyceps fungi - i know what i’m researching tonight after i clock out! first time i’ve heard about this

 

[spideyspinneret78]

ja that’s definitely up there with the cordyceps fungi - i know what i’m researching tonight after i clock out! first time i’ve heard about this

Yeah. Super strange and fascinating.

<edit> apparently there are worms called mermethids that change the composition of the host's hemolymph which causes it to search for water. However the nematoid horsehair worms actually do alter their hosts nervous system causing them to drown themselves. Bizarre but so incredibly interesting. There's just still so much we don't understand.

 

[l4nsky]

Cordyceps is such a strange thing too. When I first saw an article about it my jaw was on the floor.

The (positive) effects it has on humans and mammals is pretty interesting too, Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris in particular.

 

[viper69]

Dehydration

I disagree- this is caused by bad keepers.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I disagree- this is caused by bad keepers.

I agree that it's most often caused by bad husbandry, but I still feel that it's something that should be mentioned because many people might not know how to correctly address it, and would instead throw their spider into an ICU and end up killing their tarantula.

 

[YungRasputin]

I agree that it's most often caused by bad husbandry, but I still feel that it's something that should be mentioned because many people might not know how to correctly address it, and would instead throw their spider into an ICU and end up killing their tarantula.

in captivity yes, however, given the ravages of climate change, i would say that “wild” tarantulas do genuinely experience dehydration unfortunately

this thread is wide open tbh - some of these probably wouldn’t occur in captivity (eg: zombie fungi) but are still worth noting

 

[Smotzer]

Arachnids have lived for millions of years, they’ve never needed veterinary care. Suddenly now that we’re keeping them they need help!?. BS it is on us. Human error. If it’s natural it shall be, us keeping them is also not natural and we create the problems we think we need to fix. That’s the truth, in nature not everyone is meant to survive but we can’t fix human error by not treating the cause; us, not them.

 

[YungRasputin]

Arachnids have lived for millions of years, they’ve never needed veterinary care. Suddenly now that we’re keeping them they need help!?. BS it is on us. Human error. If it’s natural it shall be, us keeping them is also not natural and we create the problems we think we need to fix. That’s the truth, in nature not everyone is meant to survive but we can’t fix human error by not treating the cause; us, not them.

couldn’t disagree more - if you have an animal in you care, that has a treatable illness or injury, and you just allow it to die - that’s explicitly abuse - it’s like saying “my kitten has fleas, better just let the fleas consume it till it gets anemia and dies”

yes, arachnids are amazing creatures that have survived for millions of years - they’re a real hardy lot but again, not giving your animal care when it is in your ability to do so is abuse

with this said, currently, medical treatment for arachnids is lacking, i get that, but that doesn’t mean it has to remain so - it doesn’t mean that we as keepers can’t find new and innovative ways to care for our specimens

 

[spideyspinneret78]

couldn’t disagree more - if you have an animal in you care, that has a treatable illness or injury, and you just allow it to die - that’s explicitly abuse - it’s like saying “my kitten has fleas, better just let the fleas consume it till it gets anemia and dies”

yes, arachnids are amazing creatures that have survived for millions of years - they’re a real hardy lot but again, not giving your animal care when it is in your ability to do so is abuse

with this said, currently, medical treatment for arachnids is lacking, i get that, but that doesn’t mean it has to remain so - it doesn’t mean that we as keepers can’t find new and innovative ways to care for our specimens

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If someone has an pet, whether it be a dog, cat, snake, iguana, arachnid, etc. that is sick or has parasites, it's their responsibility to get that animal veterinary care if it's available. It's part of being a responsible pet owner.

 

[Smotzer]

couldn’t disagree more - if you have an animal in you care, that has a treatable illness or injury, and you just allow it to die - that’s explicitly abuse - it’s like saying “my kitten has fleas, better just let the fleas consume it till it gets anemia and dies”

yes, arachnids are amazing creatures that have survived for millions of years - they’re a real hardy lot but again, not giving your animal care when it is in your ability to do so is abuse

Where did I say not to care for your animal and let it die??. Quote that please. I said fix the human error. 99% of every problem I have ever seen on here has been created by poor husbandry In some way shape or form. You don’t need a vet to fix that you need the keepers to fix themselves. For the remaining 1% of problems thats different. Almost always in the hobby humans are to blame. It’s not like fleas it’s bad husbandry with arachnids.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Where did I say not to care for your animal and let it die??. Quote that please. I said fix the human error. 99% of every problem I have ever seen on here has been created by poor husbandry In some way shape or form. You don’t need a vet to fix that you need the keepers to fix themselves. For the remaining 1% of problems thats different. Almost always in the hobby humans are to blame. It’s not like fleas it’s bad husbandry with arachnids.

OK, that makes sense. I think I misunderstood what you were trying to say. I agree with that, that flawed husbandry causes the majority of issues that we see with tarantulas in captivity.