Look for the Foxtail!
– May 22, 2017 Toby –
It’s that time of the year again, where the grasses area drying and their seeds are getting sticky. Yesterday, I was standing in some dry grass and when I walked back onto the trail, I could feel something in between my toes. It wasn’t so bad at first, but then after a bit, I could feel a little pinch in the paw so I started hobbling and lay on the ground. Johnnie checked my paw and looked in between the toes where he pulled out a sticky little foxtail.
You see, grasses have this two way seed, where one way is smooth and slick and the other way is sticky and grabby. Basically, as I move, the seed moves closer to my skin.
Last year, I had the point of a seed stick right into my foot and every time I moved, it got deeper inside me until it swelled up and I could no longer walk.
Joanna took me to the vet. He’s a nice silver haired man who is gentle with me. This time, they bring me in back and put this thing over my nose. The next thing I wake up with a bandage on my paw. Joanna gives me a big hug and everything is better and of course, pepperoni.
Now, whenever the grass turns brown and starts drying out, my paws get checked at the end of each walk. I mean a good check deep between the toes where the grass seed lingers.
