[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Mike I know you are being bombarded with questions, but how big are the foxtail thingies (barbs?) that are so dangerous?

The problem is they can be almost any size. A big one can attach itself to a dog's fur and then break off, and only the tip of it will go in. So maybe a quarter inch or half inch? I'm sure. The ones Eddie got into were dry, so I imagine it could break anywhere.

In the nose, I think I would have noticed a big one, even one that size. My fear is that one of the individual needles broke off and went up there. And each of the needles has tiny barbs on it that angle in a way to where it works its way into the body.

But who knows? It could have also been a tiny speck of pollen. Or maybe a full foxtail went in a poked him and then came out, and it's the poke that's causing the irritation and sneezing. That's actually what I'm hoping now, that nothing is in there and this problem will go away with antibiotics.

It's the guessing that's driving me crazy. But again, he had his best night yet and he's having his best day yet, so I've got my fingers crossed. The vet said I won't know for sure until after I stop the meds. If the sneezing returns, there's still something wrong.