Pet Tarantulas Pose Danger to Eyes

Posted on January 6, 2010 in Animals, Health & Medicine

Thousands of people in the United States have chosen tarantulas as their pet of choice. But a recent incident involving a British tarantula owner offers a reminder about practicing pet safety.

The 29-year-old man sought medical treatment after one eye became red and watery. When the symptoms persisted for three weeks, he recalled how his pet Chilean Rose tarantula had reacted when he was cleaning its glass tank. The tarantula “released a mist of hairs” which hit his eyes and face, presumably as a self-defense mechanism. Doctors prescribed steroid drops to dislodge the hairs from the patient’s cornea.

This isn’t the first tarantula incident: doctors were able to find three similar case reports dating back to 1988. The treating physicians advised that tarantula owners exhibit caution with their beloved pets. They also suggested that tarantula keepers routinely wear eye protection when handling the animals.