Who is worse - me or the dog?

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yesterday I took the dogs out for a nice walk with a friend.  They love the creekbed behind the Toro housing and it is a great hour walk, so we took them there.  My husband is camping down at the lake, so I knew I would have time to clean them up after the walk.  We met up with a lady with two Visla puppies.  One was only 9 weeks old and he was in a backpack, but the other was a great match for Harpo.  They ran and leaped through the grass and had a great time....until!  The Visla left and Harpo started crying.  He was shaking his head and I found two foxtails - one in each ear and deep.  Took those out and he had several big stickers in his coat (inch long and 1/2 inch wide).  Took those out and finished the walk.  Then took the dogs home and gave them baths.  I was finding foxtails and stickers (the curlique kind) all night.  Harpo actually was happy to lay with me while I pulled out stickers.  This was in the paper today, and I thought it was perfect. (Gotta change the format, post later.)

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Poor Harpo!  I hope you were able to get everything out of his coat.  Simba had an encounter with large stickers in December but fortunately we didn't have to deal with foxtails.  I definitely think they know when you are helping them feel better even when the process isn't so fun. 

[Carol Brand]

Make sure you check his pads.  Those nasty foxtails can work their way into the foot an cause an abscess.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Definitely have checked out the pads and everything else.  He is still complaining about his right ear so I am taking him to the vet in about an hour.  Can't see anything, but must be something in there.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Okay, another try.  Definitely reminds me of Harpo, the mud puppy.  The same place where he got his nickname Raggmopp.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

this is totally like Cooper - BOIIIIING in the puddles and mud patches!

[Donna K & Quincy]

We don't have to deal with Foxtails but we have had to pull off a few sticky buds aka thistle. Hope Harpo is ok.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Hope Harpo is ok, it's tough having fun!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Poor Harpo hope he's all better now, please let us know.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Harpo is okay.  He had a foxtail deep down in his ear.  It took a little doing, but the vet got it and showed it to me - it was huge!  He has some medicine that he needs to take once a day (squirt it in his ear) and he is hiding in the closet right now taking a little nap.  The ear doesn't bother him anymore however.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I am so so so glad you took Harpo straight to the vet and the foxtail was removed right away. They are so dangerous. Our dogs have a Visla friend they love to romp with, too. The cartoon was hysterical!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am glad Harpo went to the vet and is doing better!

[Jennifer and Jack]

What is a fox tail and how do I know if we have them in SC? I hope Harpo feels better fast