Ate foxtails?

[Taylor & Huff]

Yesterday, I took Huff up in the hill behind our shop. There were a bunch of foxtails up there. He got a bunch in his paws and I think I picked every one out. If not, I will see them when I give him a bath tomorrow. Anyways, while we were up there he also ate some foxtails. When I noticed, I made sure he didn't eat anymore. He was coughing like trying to get them out. When we got back into the shop and we were sitting around him picking foxtails out of his paws, he threw up and my sister saw some foxtails in it. I don't know if he got them all out but I hope he did. What would you do if your doodle ate foxtails? I know how deadly they can be if they just enter their skin. What do you think I should do? Should I not worry? He has been acting normal since he threw up.

[Taylor & Huff]

I thought that if you got all the foxtails out quick enough, they don't travel into their paws. I would take him to the vet if it was me but my mom and dad will probably think that since he has been acting normal, he is fine. It might be difficult to convince them to take him to the vet. They do love him though...

[Taylor & Huff]

I know that I checked between his toes and I got them all out there, but he could still have more on his leg. He actually didn't have as many foxtails as he did some swirly spiny things. I don't know what they are called though.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Taylor...foxtails are nasty this year.  Our vet said because of the rains we had it is going to be a really bad season.  We took Gracie Doodle yesterday to get her Rattlesnake Avoidance Training refresher course up by Lake Henshaw and then we let her run around.  She had a few foxtails.  Last night I shaved her down to 1/4" because she is going to Alpine to the Dog Ranch for 8 days.  She too likes to eat the really green tender foxtails and we have to really watch her.  I understand they do not dissolve in the body so they have to get out somehow.  Just to ease your mind I would call the vet and just ask and tell him that Huff did throw up and there were some there.  After Gracie's surgery last year for foxtails in her paws I am absolutely paranoid about them!!!!  Ticks and foxtails...though we don't have ticks so far where we live...nor Rattlesnakes but I still cover all the prevention I can.  If you call the vet please post back the answer.  Too bad...Gracie was at the vet for her annual just yesterday morning before going to her class.  I could have asked then...should have...because she has eaten them too!

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Just curious...what does the rattlesnake avoidance training entail?

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff ate the dry ones though. I did see some green ones but I think he was eating just the dry ones. We got Huff in Alpine:) That is too bad. Now, Bryce is telling me she is not sure she saw foxtails when he threw up. I don't know anymore haha:)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Gracie Doodle came from a breeder in Alpine...Christy's Goldendoodles!

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff did too but not the same one. It was San Diego Goldendoodle:) Simple name haha:)

[Lee Seidman]

What does Rattlesnake training involve. I am going to be doing some hiking in the forest in North Carolina. I personally hate snakes,  but my Doodles have never seen one. I would think their curiosity might get the best of them.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

You will have to Google around and find one in your area.  This is the third year that I have taken Gracie Doodle.  Each year is a refresher course but they are all done the same way.  They put a shock (electronic) collar on the dog.  Then they use a long rope and they take her out in a field.  They have planted three rattle snakes with hoods over their heads in the field.  They have a little red flag stake near where the snake is.  They start walking your dog around the area where the snake is and if the dog gets too close or is not paying attention then they get shocked.  They want the dog to learn sight, smell and sound.  Gracie definitely remembered from last year. She was having none of even wanting to go down into the field the second time.  They do it twice, waiting about 15 minutes in between.  It costs $60.  I also get the rattle snake vaccine booster every year.  Initially it is a two injection process about a week to two weeks apart then a booster every year.  All it does is slow down the venom process in the body and allows you a bit more time to seek help.  It doesn't prevent a bite...you still need immediate medical help.  We don't live where there are any snakes but I like to keep my options open when I take Gracie places and she does go to the local mountains to a dog ranch when we travel and that is snake country!!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hi again Taylor...I had to take a urine sample from Gracie to her vet today and so I asked about eating foxtails.  He said that it is really easy for them to get lodged in the tonsils and upon examination they usually don't find them because there are so many pockets in the tonsils.  They usually have to put the dog out to examine him thoroughly.  The signs to look for are snorting and coughing or sneezing.  If Huff starts doing this more than usual and it continues then there is something stuck that needs to be removed.  If the foxtails managed to get past the tonsils then hopefully they will come out in the poop.  Just keep an eye on his behavior and actions.  When you examine his paws you need to spread his toes and look in between them for any puncture holes.  If they are present then that means one of two things.  The foxtail was there but you either pulled it out, he pulled it out or it fell out...or...it has already worked its way inside the paw.  Gracie's paw got infected and very swollen and painful where she couldn't walk on it.  This was over a period of 5 or 6 days too.  So if the paw swells up or gets hot and Huff starts licking it...you need to have it checked out.  Also, check elbows, armpits, ears and nose.  Actually...do a total body search.  Those corkscrew thing are horrible!  They are just as bad as the regular foxtails and can do the same damage.  Good luck and keep an eye on him.

[Taylor & Huff]

Thanks for asking.:) I just wonder, how do you take a dog's urine sample? It must be hard. I hope he didn't get any in his tonsils. That would be scary. He hasn't been acting strange or different. He was sneezing a little bit last night.  think it was because he was sniffing something that made him sneeze though because he hasn't done anything like that since. Thanks for the info. That corkscrew is really hard to get out of Huffs fur too because they break if you don't pull them just right...

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Well, since you asked, the vet gave me a cup with a lid on it and I thought..."there is no way I am going to get that where it needs to be when she goes"...so the assistant for the vet told me to take a disposable pie pan and when Gracie squated I just went up behind her and slid the pan under her.  For a boy...wow, I have no idea!