Eddie got into some foxtails

[LunasMomma]

Poor Eddie I hope he stops sneezing soon, that must be scary for him!

Big hugs to you both!

[alaskayorkie]

Thanks, everyone, for checking in. I dropped Eddie off this morning at the vet, and I'm hoping to get the scoping done today. It depends on the doctor's availability, but I told them to treat it as an emergency. If they can't do it, I can take him elsewhere and get it done. He's having his lab work now.

I had just about talked myself into it last night when he had one especially long sneezing bout. A 13 followed by another 13. Then he woke up this morning with a 12. Those are the longest ones yet, and it just tells me he's working hard and harder to get it out. Even the sound of the sneezes has changed. Not so soft and nasally as before, but a deeper sound.

I have no doubt in my mind this is the right thing to do, whether they find anything or not. I just hope I didn't wait too long.

I'll keep everyone apprised as the day goes on. The first step will be soon when I find out if this clinic is going to be able to do it or if I have to take him to another one.

[chattiesmom]

Poor Eddie! Mike, I am so very sorry that the two of you are having to deal with this. I read a little bit about the dangers of foxtail, but could you please explain it? I'm not sure I fully understand the dangers.

[bchgirl]

It does sound like it's increasing in his discomfort. I would've made the same decision. I hope it can be taken care of today.

Sending prayers for Eddie....and his dad.

[Amber_lv]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Thanks, everyone, for checking in. I dropped Eddie off this morning at the vet, and I'm hoping to get the scoping done today. It depends on the doctor's availability, but I told them to treat it as an emergency. If they can't do it, I can take him elsewhere and get it done. He's having his lab work now.

I had just about talked myself into it last night when he had one especially long sneezing bout. A 13 followed by another 13. Then he woke up this morning with a 12. Those are the longest ones yet, and it just tells me he's working hard and harder to get it out. Even the sound of the sneezes has changed. Not so soft and nasally as before, but a deeper sound.

I have no doubt in my mind this is the right thing to do, whether they find anything or not. I just hope I didn't wait too long.

I'll keep everyone apprised as the day goes on. The first step will be soon when I find out if this clinic is going to be able to do it or if I have to take him to another one.

I am glad you took him in Mike, Always go with your gut cause better safe then sorry. I hate those foxtails we have them here and man do they burrow like they are alive. Make sure you tell them to check his ears for them to they burrow so far down it's easy to miss them. I am praying for a speedy recovery for Eddie, I really wonder if some of it has broke off and that is what is causeing irritation? Mabey he got the majority of it out but a little still in there? If you need anything let us know sending him kisses and get well wishes from our family

[Gypsy & Me]

Poor Eddie. I hope they find what is irrating him and it's all over with soon.

[sweetneas]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Yeah, I'm leaning toward trying to be more proactive on this. Unfortunately, my vet is swamped today and evidently hasn't had a chance to examine him yet. He's been there for 4 hours now. I'm on hold with him now hoping to ask him what's up.

As for camping , each year they have an annual "road lottery" that allows winners to drive in to Denali National Park. We won this year and lucked out on the day. They do it for four days, and all the other days were cloudy and rainy. Ours was perfect, and Mount McKinley was visible all day. Plus we saw the usual assortment of bears and moose and wolves, oh my!

I was so busy tending sick dogs and a mother in law who was on crutches that I didn't take many pictures, but here's a couple of the mountain. The one show shows a few classic cars that made the drive.

So sorry to hear about your doggie!! I had never heard of that.

When I was a kid, we lived in Alaska, you didn't need to win a lottery to drive to Mt. Mckinley. Dad was
telling me about this recently and I couldn't believe it. We use to even camp pretty close. Things sure have changed.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I read a little bit about the dangers of foxtail, but could you please explain it? I'm not sure I fully understand the dangers.

A couple of you have asked about foxtails and I haven't had a chance to explain. Sometimes called foxtail barley, they can be found all over the U.S. and Canada. There's one variety called the California foxtail. In Alaska, we don't have a lot of them, but they seem to crop up in areas where there's been road work or other construction.

I don't know all the science of it, but the danger is that once they penetrate the skin, they can only move in one direction. They have tiny barbs on each bristle angled that way. They can enter a dog's system anywhere: through the paw, the body, the ears, the eyes, the nose. Since they can only move one direction, they go right in and cause all kinds of havoc.

A couple sites I've seen recently say some dogs that have been autopsied have had foxtails in their hearts, perhaps drawn there by the bloodstream. But they can end up anywhere in the body.

The vets I've talked to say they can also be eliminated by the dog naturally, with no harm done. But you don't have to look far on the Internet to find horror stories of how dangerous they can be.

My vet said foxtails in the nose, at least up here, are extremely rare. He's been in the business for 20-plus years and can't remember a case like this one. That's why he was advising me to wait a little longer before going through this expensive scoping. He thinks there's a chance that it's something else.

Well, hope this helps. The bottom line is to be able to recognize them and stay away from them. And if you've been in an area with them, check your dog thoroughly afterward.

[chattiesmom]

Thank you for the explaination. Oh man - the thought of it makes me absolutely sick at my stomach. Poor poor Eddie. What evil little monsters those foxtails are - and there seems to be no protection from them.

I will double up on my thoughts and prayers for Eddie.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by sweetneas

When I was a kid, we lived in Alaska, you didn't need to win a lottery to drive to Mt. Mckinley. Dad was
telling me about this recently and I couldn't believe it. We use to even camp pretty close. Things sure have changed.

Yeah, I lived here for a summer in 1976, and you could drive in if you had a campground reservation inside the park. But there was a lot of concern about traffic on the road harming the wildlife, or at least driving it away from the roadways. Now the only way to get in most of the year is to do so in buses.

[lovmyyorkie]

Hi Mike,

Just read your thread and I must say I had No idea foxtails could do so much harm or be fatal......MG.

I want to "Thank You" for taking the time to explain in such detail how harmful foxtails are and be assure that we are thinking of Eddie and praying for him.

God Bless and hand in there Mike sending one big YT hug.

[abby2473]

Ohhh.....I've just read this.....poor Eddie....Prayers are on the way!!!

[Rae Rae]

Sending get well wishes to Eddie! I hope it's nothing serious, and that the fact it started the same time he was at the foxtails is just a coincidence. Keep us posted!

[kezza]

Oh poor Eddie.. I hope its nothing serious..

[alaskayorkie]

Well, sort of bad news. They went in with the scope and didn't find anything other than swelling in a couple areas. So I'm really back to square one. There's still a chance something is in there, it's just not visible where it is now. They're going to treat with antibiotics.