We’ve all heard about the dangers of standing water, especially in the summer when the humidity and heat bring out the hatching mosquitoes. The incidents of heartworms in Colorado dogs is rising each year, and this year will be especially bad due to all the rain we’ve had.
What does not get as much play are other summer hazards. I’m talking particularly about mushrooms and foxtails.
Most everyone in Denver has probably already heard or read the Channel 7 story which ran this week about foothills dogs getting sick and dying from mushroom poisoning. But, it’s not just in the mountains and foothills. In urban Denver, record numbers of mushrooms are popping up in yards all around the city. White caps shine brightly against the green grass in several parks and playgrounds. Our record moisture levels have made this an issue every pet owner should know about.
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning include stumbling around, falling over and sometimes seizures. It’s almost impossible to tell safe from poisonous mushrooms unless you are an expert. Just like you shouldn’t just eat mushrooms you find in the woods unless you are positive what they are (and many safe and bad species look alarmingly similar), don’t ever assume your dog isn’t not poisoned if you see him or her grazing or even licking the mushrooms in your yard. Since mushrooms can pop up overnight, check your yard each day and pick new growth. Kicking them over or smashing them into the ground does not do any good, as the spores are still spread into the yard.
If you know your dog has eaten or you see him eating mushrooms, do the following:
* Clean his mouth out of any remaining mushroom pieces.
* Induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide (just a tablespoon is enough).
* Call your veterinarian.
* Save some specimens for identification later.
The other summer hazard which can lead to costly vet bills and possible death for your pet is foxtails. Foxtails are a variety of grasses with a hard seed-bearing structure with sharp pointed ends and microscopic barbs. They become most dangerous when the grasses dry, and are the most common foreign body removed from dogs by vets.
Foxtails can enter a dog’s body through any opening, including being inhaled. Nose, ears and throat are the most common entry points. They can also get between the toes and burrow into the feet. What makes them so dangerous is that they will only move forward when embedded inside the dog, carrying bacteria along with them through the mucous membranes, and they seldom show up on x-rays. In addition to causing pain and localized infections, foxtails can lodge in the spine and internal organs, causing serious illness and even death.
If your dog has foxtail seeds in its ears, it will rub at them with its paw and shake its head violently from side to side. If they get in the eye, eyes will usually water and your dog might rub its head on the ground in an effort to dislodge it. For foxtails in the throat, look for coughing, gagging, swallowing and gulping repeatedly. Even if you can see the foxtail seed, do not try to remove it yourself, but take your dog to the vet immediately. Usually the dog must be sedated, especially in cases of it being in the throat, in order to relax the muscles enough for the vet to remove it with forceps.
Always remove foxtails from your yard if you have dogs. Any park or dog area with foxtails growing is not a friendly environment for your dog.
It’s up to us, the guardians, to keep our pets safe and look out for their welfare. With the extra rain we’ve had this year, that brings a bit more burden, but well worth the rewards of a healthy pet.
Please see the article in its entirety HERE.
Dog Friendly Denver 