A microscopic image of a foxtail weed. See the barbs on the stalk? The barbs get on your pet's fur, and then any movement from your pet can cause these barbs to move further into your pets fur, and eventually enter the skin. These barbs can travel within the body, and have been known to enter vital organs, spinal column and can cause death.
They really are kind of beautiful, with the sunlight hitting them...
Don't let them fool you...
KILL THEM!
Standard herbicides that are used to control Foxtail
include Dacthal, Balan or Pendimathaline.
Mow frequently to keep weeds from germinating.
Baxter's throat...nice pus drainage tube...
These are images of Baxter's throat. Chase noticed the large lump on him Thursday afternoon. I started freaking out, because it is known for Bernese Mountain Dogs to get a certain kind of cancer called LymphoSarcomas. I called the vet early Friday am, and told them what was going on, told them what I thought it was, and he told me not to jump ahead and think the worst...he then mentioned the Foxtail weed, and asked to see Baxter right away. He poked the large lump (which then was a little larger than the size of a tennis ball) with a needle, and got blood and pus from it. This was good. He then said that Baxter would have to go under general anesthesia and have immediate surgery for the abscess and infection caused most likely by the ingestion of a seed by a foxtail weed. I had never heard of this happening before. So, I am sending a warning to all pet owners that live in areas where this 'foxtail' grows. Keep your pets out of meadows and fields where this weed grows, pull them from your yard immediately! Brush your pet's fur after a walk in infested areas. DON'T let them eat this grassy weed!
2 comments:
Holy Cow!!! Wow that is actually really scary! I have never heard of that. Thanks for sharing!
WOW! Thanks for the warning I never would have guessed something like that. That's horrible! Poor Baxter!! I hope his recovery is quick.
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