These hitchhikers can be deadly, and right now they are everywhere!
Having a routine for inspection is helpful in making sure you cover the entire animal. Pets with thicker and/or longer hair are especially susceptible to picking up all kinds of foreign bodies, and will require a more thorough inspection.
- I start at the head – checking the nose, eyes, corners of the mouth, under the neck, and finally the ears. Carefully remove any foreign bodies one at a time.
- Next, I move to the chest and front legs. When I get to the feet, I pay extra attention to the pads. Check in between each pad, as well as between the toes.
- After that I move down the back, sides and stomach. Be sure to check the armpits!
- Finally, the rear. Check the base and along the length of the tail. Lift the tail and check the genital area. Move down the rear legs and again, pay close attention to the feet, always checking between the pads and toes thoroughly.
Be consistent with this routine, as these hitchhikers can quickly burrow into the skin, causing serious infection – sometimes with fatal outcomes. I personally know someone who lost a dog due to a foxtail embedding in a genital area.
Do your best friend and yourself a favor, always check after exposure to the outdoors. Have fun out there – summer is officially here! 😎