We are in summer and our four-legged friend not only has to face fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other insects, but also enemies such as spikes or velcro seeds.
When these spikes are green they are not dangerous, but when the time of heat begins and they dry they can start to be harmful. These plants need to disperse or propagate their seeds as far as possible to ensure their offspring and therefore they are hooked to the fur of the animals. When a spike is hooked to your dog’s hair and gets deep, penetrates the skin and can be very dangerous. It is very annoying, produces pain and can cause inflammation and infections.
Symptoms that can make you suspect
Some of the symptoms that dogs may suffer if they have stuck a spike in their fur are nervousness, restlessness and they can try to scratch in the area that has the spike. They also sneeze a lot if they have the spike in their nose. If it is on one leg, they can lick it or bite it. Sometimes they lose their appetite, especially if they have it stuck in their mouth or nose. In case of any symptom of this type, it is advisable not to waste time and go urgently to the veterinarian. The spikes can be stuck anywhere in the body, but there are areas that can be much more painful and dangerous.
Almost all symptoms usually appear suddenly after a walk with the dog, especially in areas with spikes with velcro seeds. If we discover them in time we could prevent all the damage they cause. That is why it is important to observe your dog after a walk, brush it, touching it with your hands, look at its ears and control its entire body a little. The most common areas where spikes hook are ears, nose, eyes, between fingers and genitals.
The ears
When a spike is in the ear is usually inside of it. It is typical that if they have a spike in the ear they will feel pain if we touch the ear and one of the symptoms that will manifest will be constantly shaking the head and even having the head on one side. We can also notice it because the ear that is affected is lower. If these spikes are not removed they can produce an inflammation of the ear and otitis. In very extreme cases the spikes may perforate the eardrum. This discomfort causes the dog to constantly scratch its ear, being able to observe an otohematoma and produce bleeding.
The eyes
A spike in the eye is very annoying and painful for our dog because with the blinking it produces an irritating touch. The spikes can be lodged between the eyeball and the eyelid, the tear duct or the third eyelid. The most common symptom is that they tend to have their eyes closed and they tear and ooze. When they scratch or try to rub the eye they can complicate the situation by pushing the spike and end up causing damage to the cornea. Therefore, if our dog has a spike in his eye it is necessary to take him to the vet urgently to avoid major problems, because the health of its eyes is at stake.
The nose
It can very easily happen that our dog, which continuously sniffs everything, ends up inserting a spike into its nose. We can suspect that it has a spike in its nose when we see that the dog sneezes frequently, itches and tries to scratch its nose and snout with its legs. We can also see that there is an excess of mucus and even blood. It is not recommended that you try to remove the spike from its nose, because it is a very delicate area. It is better to go to the veterinarian, because in many cases they will have to sedate it to be able to take it off. Do not make the mistake of believing that it will be removed alone. On the contrary, it can cause an infection that would further complicate the situation.
The mouth
If our dog has picked a spike with the mouth it could be stuck in the gum, tongue or sides of the mouth. But the case would be more serious if the dog had swallowed the spike nailing at some point in the mucosa of the digestive tract. The symptoms are that the dog will have pain, drooling, shaking his head, will have difficulty eating and drinking or will not want to eat. In this case, as in the others, it is best to go urgently to the veterinarian.
The pads and the interdigital areas
Dogs do not wear shoes like us, so their legs are in direct contact with the ground. The legs are the place where the spikes, velcro seeds and many other pungent seeds can be stuck most frequently. Typically, the velcro spike is keyed between the fingers. We can realise it easily because our dog begins to limp and sometimes do not want to support that leg. If we see it in time we can just remove it. If we do not notice and the spike begins to penetrate the leg, we will see that it will lick and bite itself. Your dog will be in pain and with time we will see a purulent abscess. It is very likely that the veterinarian has to make a small cut to remove the spike in its entirety and treat the infection. It is important that the dog wear a protective bandage to protect the remaining wound.
The genitals
If a spike gets stuck in the penis or vulva, dogs would have difficulty urinating and could even develop urinary infections. They can even have fistulas that could cause purulent secretions, such as pus.
Tips to prevent the effects of spikes and velcro seeds
Of course, spikes are not a problem for city dogs or those living in a flat. Even the parks in the cities are very well cared for and this weed does not usually grow wild. The problem arises when we take a dog from town to the field.
- Avoid walking dogs in areas that are very dry and with a high concentration of spikes or velcro seeds.
- As a fixed rule, thoroughly brush the entire body of the dog after each walk.
- It is essential to check the body of our partner in full after each walk, especially controlling the most sensitive areas: legs, between the fingers, nails, the inside of the pads, spur and of course eyes, ears, mouth and genitals. You should have more control in long-haired dogs because it is easier to pin a spike and not see it.
- It is advisable to trim the hair from the legs and also the hair that grows between the pads. You can also trim the hair from the inside of the ears, especially in dogs that have a lot of hair.
- If it is a long-haired dog, in summer the hair could be cut, but from LaraVital they do not advise cutting their hair at skin level, because it protects them from the direct rays of the sun, and we must not play with the Spanish sun in summer.
- If upon returning from a walk you detect something strange in your dog, such as restlessness, nervousness, itching, tilting its head, sneezing… consult a specialist immediately.
As a tip for hot weather, never walk your dog in the hours of full sun. The best time is in the early morning or at sunset. Let’s enjoy our walks with our best friend, but consider all these dangers.
If you have questions about feeding your dog with cold pressed natural feed or want to know more about the exclusive products that LaraVital offers you, you can contact their friendly staff through the following ways.
LaraVital
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