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Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1840 Location: Central ND

This has probably been written about before but....

I have a 3 year old GSP Marty. It's been pretty cold here in ND and I have been hunting on the better days, which have been few and far between. Anyway, a week ago, about 3 days after I last hunted him, Marty had a very slight limp, sometimes but not always, but for the most part he was running around like he always does, flat out. Started looking at his right foot and there was a tiny spot where there probably was an infection. The Vet gave me antibiotics and had me soak his foot in epsom salts. The infection didn't seem to get worse, but it wasn't getting better. After 5 days, the Vet opened the infected part of his foot and found foxtail seeds.

Marty is fine, a couple of stitches was all it took.

Just wanted to give a heads up and a reminder that dumb stuff can happen and to pay attention so that it doesn't get worse. Dogs, they are the reason I love upland bird hunting.

Thanks for this, I was not aware. I did a quick search and WebMD has an article about it. Apparently they can also be inhaled and dig into a lung, scary stuff.

I know of a couple foxtail patches in some spots I hunt, mostly because they were my “signpost” to getting into a duck spot in the dark. I’ll be watching for them more vigilantly now.

Another problem I have had is cheat grass seeds in my dog's ear canals. Had to have the vet take them out.

Member Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 376 Location: North ID.

Although the dogs are very durable, stuff happens and at times require the services of a Vet! I guess that's an obvious statement, but nothing to trifle with in many instances!

Returned from a SD hunt a little over a week ago and was texting my hunting friend who spent another week hunting. He said one evening he noticed one of his labs was bleeding quite a bit from his penis area. He took him to the vet the next day and somehow his dog had got a decent cut on his penis that required stitches. He figured it may have happened when he was bulldozing his way through a cattail patch! Kind of unusual injury perhaps, but another thing to watch out for!

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

https://www.atlanticvetseattle.com/foxtail-seeds-cause-painful-infections-in-dogs-and-cats/

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Foxtail seeds have barbs that help them burrow into the ground and germinate. This means if the get into your dogs skin they can keep burrowing farther in. They can go from just under the skin into muscle and even into the chest cavity. Very nasty as the seeds don’t show up well on X-ray.

Joined: 30 Sep 2019 Posts: 145 Location: Colorado

Thanks for the “heads up” on Foxtail.

I’ve already twice paid for the cheatgrass removals.

Joined: 24 Jul 2016 Posts: 548 Location: Ohio

The pooch is taking quite the beating this year. Foxtail and porcupine all in one year. Shocked

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1840 Location: Central ND

Yeah he did, but he's back to being Marty. I am hoping that after the snow that is predicted for tomorrow and Wednesday I will be able to hunt him a couple more times before the season ends.

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 444 Location: WI

There are different kinds of foxtail, some are worse than others. It has more to do with the state of maturity of the seed head. Mature ones are really the only ones that are a problem, as the seed head has hardened off. The only foxtail I have had trouble with is Foxtail Barley, and then only with the horses when there's some in their hay. It can get stuck in and around their mouths, and the only treatment is time and foxtail free hay.

The equine vet also suggests mouth rinses with a dilute solution of chlorhexidine gluconate, which they are happy to sell me as a concentrate for $5 for 6oz. Of course, I get the same thing for $20 a gallon (udder wash) at Fleet Farm.

after my trips out to SoDak , I've become really appreciative of what Mark Peden's Britts , Peach and Cream , Marty - the whole crew of dogs and what they go thru . HAPPILY !! Sat down on a clean looking road bank near where the dogs were working hot , and wholly cripes . You really needed cowboy chaps and leather to keep from the assault from the prickers , pokers and all the other crap on the ground . And that was clean looking ground ! Foxtail , just one more thing coming at you !