Police in Spain have issued advice to dog owners in the event that their pet comes into contact with a toxic caterpillar.
The pests, known as processionary caterpillars, are in their prime in April as they climb down from their nests, typically in pine trees.
They travel in a long, single file in a bid to confuse predators, before ‘pupating’ (turning into larvae to later hatch as moths) underground.
They are found in wooded or park areas and each one is covered in tiny, spiky hairs, which they can use against animals who get too close.
In a TikTok video, an officer from the Policia Nacional warns that any dog who comes into contact with the caterpillars will need ‘immediate veterinary attention.’
She added: ‘You must try to remove as many hairs of the caterpillar from your pet as possible, always without rubbing… the best way is to put them in lukewarm water and take out as many hairs as possible.
‘As soon as you can, pick up your pet and take them to the vets.’
She said the signs to look out for will be swelling or inflammation on the dog’s face, nose, tongue or cheeks.
They can also salivate more than usual while the hairs can cause their tongue to begin to decay, in a process known as necrosis.
