Processionary caterpillars: what emergency measures should be taken?
Have you seen processionary caterpillars? Has your dog come into contact with them, or do you suspect it has? This could be a veterinary emergency! Here's how to react immediately if your dog has touched or eaten processionary caterpillars.
Processionary caterpillars are a real scourge for all parents and pet-parents. One moment of inattention and bam, your dog or cat sniffs or steps on a procession of caterpillarsā¦
In the South, we all know a dog that had part of its tongue amputated because of processionary caterpillarsā¦ And unfortunately, they are proliferating more and more in France and Europe (I put the link to our 2026 report at the bottom of this article).
The reactions can happen very quickly. The stinging hairs of these caterpillars break and release a toxic venom. Your dog is at risk of burns, edema, necrosis and possible anaphylactic shockEspecially if your dog is affected in the mouth, this can lead to the danger of death by suffocation or poisoning.
In case of contact, or worse, ingestion, You therefore need to go to your veterinarian as soon as possible. !!! There's no room for discussion.
other Emergency actions can save your dog's tongue, paw, or even lifeTheir goal is to slow down the inflammation caused by the toxicity of processionary caterpillars.
ā ļø I'm not a vet, and this article is absolutely not meant to stop you from going to the vet or slow you down. It's meant to give you the right reflexes to have while you wait to get your dog to the vet! These are the steps I would take with Musher if there were a problem. I believe that a well-informed pet parent is worth two, so I thought it was important to share this information with youā¦
Table of contents
My dog āāhas come into contact with processionary caterpillars: how should I react?
š If your dog has come into contact with processionary caterpillars, you must act quickly. :
- Position yourself and your dog in an area away from the processionary caterpillars.
- Put on the disposable gloves provided in your first aid kit, important so you don't get burned yourself!
- Open a water bottle or a garden hose; whatever you have on hand.
- Place your dog in a position where you will both be stable, and where he can hardly move (no, it's not pleasant, but it's for his health! What follows may hurt him, he might try to escape from you);
- Rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water.For several minutes if possible. Even if it's the eye that's affected, this could save it! If it's the tongue, hold your dog's head down so the fur doesn't grow back deeper.
- If possible while rinsing, otherwise immediately afterwards, call 3115 (free veterinary emergency number) or the nearest open veterinarian. Request intervention or inform them that you are arriving with a dog infested by processionary caterpillars;
- If you are waiting for the vet to come to you: limit your dog's movements as much as possible, and absolutely prevent him from licking himself. The best thing to do is to put an Elizabethan collar on him. Handle your dog as little as possible, except to rinse him;
- If you need to go to the vet, put a cone on your dog during the journey to prevent it from licking itself. Place sheets that you can wash at a high temperature in place of your dog, to facilitate cleaning afterwards, and avoid a second envenomation;
- For what comes next, follow the vet's recommendations. I'm really hoping your dog has few or no lasting effects!
I was also told about the usefulness of fire healers. They supposedly help reduce the burn caused by processionary caterpillars and limit their lasting effects. It's worth trying as a supplement if your dog is already under vet care, or if you can't provide treatment quickly enough.
ā What you absolutely must not do :
- Giving your dog food, water, or medicine is dangerous: it risks ingesting stinging hairs and spreading the envenomation even faster.
- apply oil, green clay, give charcoal or homeopathy
- Rubbing the affected area will disperse the venom.
- Applying a tourniquet to limit the infection: the vet may not be able to remove it if the swelling becomes too severe.
Here are the emergency steps to take when you know your dog has been in contact with processionary caterpillars.
If you are not sure whether these creatures are responsible for your dog's symptoms, Just in case, call your vet. I'll give you some additional explanations and advice below.
š¬ I'll interrupt your reading for 10 seconds, but it's for a very useful piece of information, I promise! 
Pet food, vet visits, holidays, equipmentā¦ The dog budget is becoming a real money pit, isn't it? It's unbelievable!
With Musher, we've been working for you: the Wouafer's Pass gives access to Over 30 negotiated discounts, including Corsica Ferries, Campings.com, SantĆ©Vet and dozens of discounted pet food brands š¾ Personally, I'm going to save ā¬344 this yearā¦ and that feels good!
I'm including the link to Wouafer's Pass hereā¦ and I'll let you continue reading 
What are the first symptoms of envenomation to look out for?
It is possible that your dog has touched or swallowed some stinging hairs even though you haven't seen a single processionary caterpillar....
Indeed, their hairs break off and can remain along the path they've traveled. Or worse, they may have been crushed, scattering the hairs all around the area of āāthe "crime." In strong winds, they can also be released into the airā¦ Moreover, though less frequently, processionary caterpillars aren't always found in processions. They sometimes wander about on their own, making them harder to identify, but they are still just as venomous!
š· If you see a caterpillar but you don't know if it's a processionary caterpillar, take a picture of it. This will greatly help your vet with the diagnosis! In a panic, we sometimes don't really know what we saw, whereas a photo accurately reflects reality š
Dogs that come into contact with processionary caterpillars exhibit the following symptoms: :
- swellings sometimes extreme
- rash
- severe pain in the affected areas
- irritations or even burns
- Excessive salivation, especially if the hairs have touched the tongue
- vomiting if the tongue is affected
If your dog appears to have one or more of the above symptoms, quickly take emergency action. described above, then rush to the nearest vet !
And if in doubt, keep a close eye on your dog, prevent it from licking the affected area, and call your veterinarian to find out what they think.
I hope this article has been helpful and that you and your dog will be spared from processionary caterpillars! Unfortunately, they are so prevalent in France and other countries that I prefer prevention to cure.
š Here is our 2026 assessment of the areas most at risk of processionary caterpillars in France and EuropeBecause yes, they have been reported in 8 countries on the continent!
š” Since prevention is better than cure, I also recommend that youlearn to quickly recognize the presence of processionary caterpillars, as well as learn how to fight against their proliferation on your own scaleā”ļø You will find all the necessary information in our article: Processionary caterpillars: a deadly danger for your dog.
Take care of yourself and your dog.