[Twinkie's Mum]

I'm cross-posting this information from another basset-related board because I think its very important. This fellow's basset developed a huge abcess on his head (the swelling caused his eye to close) that had to be surgically drained last night, and maybe again today. Here's the reason why:

" just spoke with the vet and it was an abscess caused by a centimeter long foxtail (grass seed pod). The vet said that the large swelling on the top of his head is down significantly this morning and he's looking much better. The problem now is that the area on his upper lid right above his eye is still very swollen and red. He's thinking that there is a second pocket of abscess in there and is going to go back in and flush that area out as well. He thinks there may be more seed pod in there, but won't know until he gets in there. I'll let you know what happens. I guess the problem with the foxtails is that once they get in through the eye, they can travel throughout the body once they enter the eye. Here's a site with more info...

http://www.almostheaven-golden-retriever-r...og-dangers.html "

Watch your houndies. Poor Larry's really suffered with this. Best wishes to all.

Janet 'n Twink

 

[Betsy Iole]

Janet, do you have permission to crosspost the quote from the other list? Just so there are no hard feelings, it's a good idea to indicate the the original poster has given permission.

 

[Twinkie's Mum]

Oops, didn't know the protocol. I'm checking with the owner for permission. He's pretty busy now that his dog's home from the vet, but if I don't get it soon, I'll have you remove the post. Sorry.

Modified to say: I do have his permission and have given him the link to here. When he has time he may come and add to the post. Thanks.

Janet 'n Twink

[ November 02, 2005, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: Twinkie's Mum ]

 

[Archie and Larry]

Hi everybody. I'm Larry's owner and I have no problem with Janet cross posting over here. The more people that know about this potential threat, the better. I'm happy to say that he's doing much better this morning, although, he still does have quite a bit of healing to do. It really was an awful ordeal.

Paul

 

[Sadeyes]

Hi Paul, Thanks for that info. Foxglove is quite dense in some of the areas that I walk my dogs. Never thought in a million years that it could be so dangerous. Never knew what it was until I looked at the link (thanks Janet). Will certainly take them another route from now on.

Hope Larry continues to improve,I suppose it could have been worse, according to that link they can travel through the body to the lungs etc at least you got before it could wreck any more havoc.

 

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Southern Calif. in the 60's and our first Basset Daisy got a foxtail up her nose. Very scary, vet got it out. Not a fun thing. Belinda.

 

[Archie and Larry]

He continues to improve daily, but I'm going to be spending much of this weekend getting the remainder of the foxtail out of the back yard. It's beyond going to seed at this point, so hopefully we're in the clear for awhile too. He must have picked his up sniffing around somewhere.

 

[Aruuuu]

Also a serious problem if a foxtail gets stuck in the ear canal. Scary stuff....

 

[Anonymous]

Years ago we had a wonderful Lab, my husband's hunting partner, who had a foxtail travel from the entry site between the toes of his webbed front paw to a spot near his shoulder blades. We were unaware, no limping, until an abscess formed in the shoulder blade area, and we took him to the vet. Quite the mess and infection throughout his entire leg. It took several rounds of antibiotics clear things up. The vet told us we were fortunate to have discovered the abscess early, that he had removed legs of several dogs who did not get treatment in time over the years of his practice. Scary!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Dumb question here. Do we have this kind of grass in Texas(esp. Dallas) ?

Mike M

 

[Twinkie's Mum]

I seem to recall while reading that it is common in Texas ... the link below shows a map where the foxtail is common. This only shows the giant foxtail, but there are others that look pretty much the same, but smaller.

http://explorebiodiversity.com/problem_pla...ria%20magna.htm

Janet 'n Twink

 

[Anonymous]

Many thanks. Those photos look very familiar. We do have them here.

Mike M and Max

 

[Houndkeeper]

We have tons of Fox Tail in these parts of Maryland. Like alota of weeds, it seems to thrive just about anywhere.

 

[CmFairygodmother]

Never knew this!! Thanks for the information! I will keep an eye out for it!