Dog Blog : Has your dog ever run into foxtails?

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Has your dog ever run into foxtails?

Posted by dogblog

Posted: September 16, 2008 - 3:47 pm

This isn't a typical topic, but since I had a scare this weekend I thought I'd see if anyone else has had a brush with this potentially lethal sticker. And if so, did it require vet attention?

While walking Eddie onleash outside Denali Park, I heard him sneeze multiple times and looked down to see him standing near some foxtails. After about 10 sneezes, he stopped and I looked at his nose. Nothing visible and no blood. His sneezes continued about hourly until bedtime, then he slept soundly through the night.

I'd been in contact with emergency vets, but when he woke up Monday with no sneezes, I decided not to rush him to the vet. In fact, he went all day without a sneeze.

Unfortunately, the sneezes returned last night and continued hourly or so until he napped in the car on the way home. I'm at the vet's now waiting for him to be checked.

The problem is there's no easy way to find out if he has a foxtail up there. They would have to knock him out and probe around -- not easy to do with such a tiny nose. I'll let you know what the vet says, but I'm mildly encouraged by the absence of blood and infrequent sneezing.

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4 September 18, 2008 - 2:33pm | dogblog

No luck

They scoped and flushed Eddie's nasal passage today and found nothing other than swelling, which is what the vets feared could happen. His nose is so tiny and there are a lot of places the scope can't get to or see clearly.

So I'm back to Plan A, treating with antibiotics to reduce the swelling and hoping he resolves it on his own.

September 18, 2008 - 3:49pm | chris_goff

Speedy recovery, Eddie!

(And Mike, stressful for the humans.)

I would not be surprised if Eddie NEVER sneezes near you again!

September 18, 2008 - 3:47pm | mwolf

Stupid Foxtails

Ugg. It'd been nice if they could have found something. Paws crossed that the flushing got things moving and Eddie gets whatever is in there out soon.

September 18, 2008 - 2:54pm | robynandbatman

Hopefully

the flush will lesson the inflammation and allow him to work it out. Antibiotics and the Rimdyl for inflammation should help too.

Thinking good thoughts for Eddie!

3 September 17, 2008 - 10:42am | donnalittlejohn

foxtails

Several years ago I had a little terrier mix named Fritz who came in from the yard one night sneezing violently, blood spraying everywhere. After rushing him to the local pet ER, they found 2 of the horrible stickers in his nose (he was oldera that time and built low to the ground, often sniffed around -- and they did have to put him under to do the exam & then to remove what they found).

I've managed to rid my yard of foxtails, but they're a complete menace where we live in southern california. It takes vigilance, dogs can pick them up so easily. (And my dogs now, border collie mixes, are a challenge because of the long hair and the ability of fox tails to wind their way under a thick coat).

We had a post about foxtails on South Bay Pets www.insidesocal.com/pets/2008/05/i-hate-these-things.html a while back.

September 17, 2008 - 10:57am | dogblog

Thanks for the link

Yep, that picture is exactly what I'm talking about. The ones Eddie got into were drier, though, a firmer yellow. I've been surfing the net for a couple days looking up information. Sounds like you know what you're talking about -- they don't call them California foxtails for nothing!

These were in an odd area. I don't think they are indigenous to the area. It was a parking lot, and there were areas where weeds were popping up.

September 17, 2008 - 12:14pm | donnalittlejohn

foxtails

We have them all over the place here, there's a wild field of them across the street from where I live near the port of los angeles. And the seeds can be blown and take root elsewhere. Maybe some few north your way. :)

They're most dangerous when they're dry. A friend who lived in Washington State didn't seem familiar with them when I'd asked him.

They are EVIL.

2 September 16, 2008 - 7:16pm | purplepanther3579

foxtails/burrs

I know all about them they are everywhere down here right now, the boys get them in their, ears, tails, between their toes it was loads of fun camping a couple of weekends ago and searching the boys every time they ventured out of camp and before entering the tent for the night.

Fortunatly they did not get any in their ears or noses.

We just pulled them out of their fur with our hands.

Purple Panther Dog Training
purplepanther3579@yahoo.com

1 September 16, 2008 - 4:03pm | jcfreak17

Eddie

I hope Eddie is ok. Hopefully the vet will know how to tell is something is wrong or not without actually knocking him out. We're going out in the bush with Whiskey this week, but we'll mostly be in the Tundra. I'll have to keep a lookout for the foxtails.

September 16, 2008 - 5:34pm | robynandbatman

Foxtails

I've had dogs in the past that get them in their throat and ears, but not in the nose. I'd be surprised if it got in his nose and stayed-especially if he sneezed a bunch. It probably came out during all the sneezes.

Hope he's doing well.

September 16, 2008 - 5:32pm | dogblog

Thanks

Yeah, you should be OK on the natural tundra. We ran into these in a parking lot outside of the park. They were all over the place in dirt areas. I'd spotted them and been avoiding them, but the one time I wasn't paying attention he found some.

I don't know what to think now. The vet said he was breathing equally out of both nostrils, a good sign. She was encouraged by the non-constant sneezing (he didn't sneeze at all in the hour I was at the vet's, but as soon as we left he started up again. About once every 10-15 minutes for the last hour). And she was encouraged by the lack of blood. But it doesn't explain why he's continuing to sneeze.

It could be as simple as him inhaling some pollen or something he was allergic to. I have to see if it's going to continue or go away.

Treatment options she gave me if the sneezing continues:
* Knock him out and flush his nasal passage with saline. Or
* Knock him out and go in with a scope to see if they can see anything. Or
* Ignore it and hope it's something he's able to eliminate by himself.

With a larger dog, you could knock them out and go in with a forceps, hoping to pull something out. But his nasal passages are too tiny for that.

Well, I feel mildly better about it being home. At one point Sunday night, an emergency vet recommended I drive him immediately to Fairbanks. I was ready to do that when the sneezing stopped.

September 16, 2008 - 5:54pm | robynandbatman

look in the nose

did they look in the nose with that scope thing? If the passages are red/irritated/scratched then I'd say knock him out and flush it.

Can't they use tweezers instead of forceps?

September 16, 2008 - 6:04pm | dogblog

No scope

My understanding is she would have to refer me to another vet who had the scope. And that even with the scope, they'd have to knock him out. So her recommendation was that if the sneezing continues, knock him out and do the nasal flush.

My vet had a surgery day today and couldn't see him. I'm going to talk to him tomorrow and see what he says.

She didn't mention the possibility of tweezers, but his nasal passage is tiny, tiny, tiny. You'd think they make a tool that small, but it would have to be for rabbits or something. :)

September 17, 2008 - 7:41am | Akdogsports

Many years ago one of my Shelties

got a foxtail up his nose and it buried itself in, got infected and had to be removed. They can be nasty things.

The last time I was 'Outside' with the dogs in California we stopped at a pit stop to let them potty and Ryder went to the end of the flexi to find a spot - I then realized he was standing in a field of foxtales and quickly got him out but those things had clung onto him all over. It took a bit of time to get them all off and out from between any crevace he had.

But don't worry the snow will be here soon and we'll have other things to worry about. ;> (couldn't help myself)

Liz

September 17, 2008 - 7:54am | dogblog

Interesting

What kind of symptoms did you have before it was removed? Constant sneezing? Occasional? Anything else?

My problem now is Eddie is hardly sneezing at all, but he's still sneezing. Last night around 11, he had a fit of about 10 sneezes. Then he slept through the night until 7:30, when he woke us up with 6-8 sneezes. But nothing in between.

At the vet's yesterday, his temperature was normal, his breathing was even, and he didn't appear sick or out of sorts.

My vet hasn't been able to see him because he's rushing to get out of town. He's supposed to call me back this morning to talk about it, but whatever I do about it is probably going to be done by another vet.

I'm not sure whether I should just let it ride and see if it gets infected or expelled on his own or if I should be proactive and get his nasal passage flushed. Ugh. And then who should I get to do it? Hopefully, my vet will call back and recommend somebody.

September 17, 2008 - 9:46am | sondrals

my other dog

got a foxtail lodged in his nose and had to have his sinuses flushed. He had a green nasal discharge, lethargic, refused to eat or drink and finally blood from his nose. I'd say if he starts having any type of nasal discharge to take him in..

September 17, 2008 - 10:20am | dogblog

Thanks

It's good to hear from people who have been through this before. It's really tough deciding what to do and when. He sneezed about 8-10 times last night around 11, then slept through the night. Woke up at 7:30 with 6-8 sneezes.

But no blood, no discharges. And the sneezing spells are still typically spread out. With no other changes in his appetite or behavior.

Ugh. I just don't know. I dropped him off at my vet's this morning because I want his opinion before he leaves town tonight. My inclination is to wait until I see a change, either an increase in sneezing or any kind of discharge.

September 16, 2008 - 6:40pm | robynandbatman

Wouldn't worry

It doesn't sound as if the vet was too worried, so maybe just see how he does overnight and reevaluate in the morning. I wouldn't do a procedure that had to sedate him unless I felt it really necessary.

Might have just gotten something up there that tickles the nose and then had some inflamation. I'd also try Bendryl 1/2 tab to see if that solves anything since it could have just been something he was sensitive too. Bendryl can't hurt him.

By the way, we're headed to uni lake at 7:30 if the boys want to join us.

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Has your dog ever run into foxtails?