22/03/2021
I want to alert you to a hazard and possible life-threatening incident that I have experienced in the hopes that you will recognize and be aware of the symptoms.
It would seem – likely in the summer of 2020 - Abby had inhaled some sort of seed from weeds or grasses growing in fields where we train. Likely the seed was from a type of Foxtail. Foxtails have clusters of grass seeds on the top of the plant. These pods are designed to fall off in order to spread the seeds. They are found everywhere but most often in open areas — hiking trails, along roadsides, in overgrown parks and other open fields – exactly the type of areas we use for training.
The seed pods of the foxtail are covered with microscopic projections. If these barbed seeds enter the body they travel and move forward and never back. They can migrate into tissue causing abscesses and widespread infections. The most common access points that foxtails utilize to enter the body are through the nose, mouth and ears. They can also pe*****te the skin causing wounds and subcutaneous abscesses. They can also be inhaled into and then perforate a lung.
Unfortunately, the inhaled seed perforated Abby’s lung and migrated into her pleural space (space around the lungs). As the seed moved into the pleural space it deposited bacteria with the resultant infection generating inflammation and pus. Over time and by the time the issue was finally diagnosed this abscess had grown and had involved many other organs – lungs, esophagus and diaphragm.
Abby had an episode of odd symptoms in the summer – a lower level of energy, difficulty and slowness moving and going downstairs. As well – during this episode she would take to ‘hiding’ around the house – a sure sign of pain. A visit to vet resulted in a diagnosis of skeletal or muscular injury - perhaps in her neck. A NSAID (Deramaxx) was recommended and the issue cleared up in a few days. Abby went on with her usual training including participating in several competitions. All seemed well.
During the late fall I felt again that there was something wrong (only we know when there is something wrong with our dogs). She was at times reluctant to jump into the car and she didn’t seem to have much energy. However, when presented with something to retrieve she exhibited her usual and only sp*ed – fast. One day in mid January however she didn’t want to get up and her gait was extremely slow. Again, a visit to a vet and another potential diagnosis of either a muscular or cervical injury in the neck was made. An array of medications was prescribed but with no relief. We were going to the vet almost weekly at this time. An xray of her upper spine and neck revealed nothing – her blood work was completely normal – she had no fever. As the weeks went on her appetite dropped considerably and she looked generally poor. She started a low-grade fever. A chest xray revealed fluid in her mediastinum (the area in the chest between the lungs that contains the heart, part of the windpipe (the trachea), the esophagus, and the great vessels to and from the heart as well as the upper part of the diaphragm which separates this space from the abdominal organs). Subsequently fluid was removed and it showed that the fluid was pus. She continued to worsen. She was unable to eat kibble because she couldn’t swallow it. She was barely eating. Her breathing had become labored, rapid, and shallow. The fluid in this space was making it more and more difficult for her lungs to expand as there simply was not enough room in the chest for lots of fluid and normal lung volume.
Her condition continued to deteriorate to the point that I took her to DMV Nord on March 7th. She was booked for a CT the next day which showed a huge abscess in her mediastinum and a pyothorax (chest) involving lungs, diaphragm and esophagus. The abscess had adhered or grown into all of these organs. The only option was surgery or euthanasia. We opted for the surgery. She was operated on March 9th. The 4-hour surgery was very complicated. The surgeon had to clean up the necrotic/infected tissues, flush out the infected fluid. He had to remove two lobes of her right lung. He emptied and cut away the abscess as much as possible. Some tissue had to be left as he could not resect the abscess wall from the esophagus and diaphragm without damaging them.
The post op period has not been very smooth. She had chest tubes placed to allow drainage of accumulated fluid out of her mediastinum and spent a week at DMV Nord and at DMV Lachine waiting for the considerable fluid to stop. Unfortunately, the chest tubes had to be removed quickly one night as they had become disconnected. This could have proved fatal as air moved into the chest and became trapped there. The staff at DVM noticed very quickly and were able to evacuate the air. They had no choice but to remove the tubes.
With the tubes out however she able to be discharged on March 16 – one week after the surgery with antibiotics, NSAID, and pain killers. She has continued to do well in most aspects – she has her ‘lab’ appetite back in spades and she looks happy and comfortable to be home.
We go back to DMV Nord daily for dressing changes and unfortunately there is still a considerable amount of fluid leaking out of her incisional site which is the only outlet for it. Because of this, her incision and underlying tissue cannot heal and the chance of a secondary infection is very high. Speaking with the surgeon today the plan will be to do an ultrasound on Monday to see where the fluid is and then likely another chest tube will have to be inserted. Unfortunately, this means she will have to be hospitalized again.
Foxtail is everywhere and if we take our dogs off the pavement at all – they are at risk of injury because of it. Again, these seeds can enter the dog’s body from many points including the skin, through the nose mouth or ears setting up infection and abscesses anywhere in the body. I am telling my story so that should your dog display odd symptoms to please consider the possibility of foxtail seeds. If this issue had been discovered earlier, Abby and I would have been spared this extensive surgery. Discovered earlier the abscess would not have grown to the size it had with its invasion to her other organs. Undoubtedly, she would not have survived much longer without this surgical intervention.
Feet.
Ears. If your pooch is shaking their head, tilting it to the side, or scratching incessantly at an ear, this could be the sign of a foxtail -- one that may be so deep inside the ear canal you can't see it. Your veterinarian needs to take a look using a special scope.
• Eyes . Redness, discharge, swelling, squinting, and pawing all may be signs your dog has a foxtail lodged in its eye. If you think this may be the case, seek veterinary care immediately.
• Nose. If you see discharge from the nose, or if your dog is sneezing frequently and intensely, there may be a foxtail lodged in a nasal passage.
• Ge****ls. Foxtails can find their way into these areas, too. So if you notice your dog persistently licking at its ge****ls, foxtails could be the cause.
