Ask the Expert
Tis the Season
By Susan Vasquez, owner of Bailey and Keelo
My dogs love to go on hikes, but of course they have much more fun romping around off the trail. Unfortunately it is the time of year when nuisances such as foxtail and ticks can become a real problem for our four legged friends.
 What are Foxtails?
When I first came to Santa Barbara I learned quickly that foxtails seemed to be everywhere but especially where my dogs enjoy playing off leash. Foxtails dry up this time of year and that is when they can cause problems for our dogs. Foxtail seeds can actually enter into a dog’s body (through the skin, nose, ears, paws and eyes) and cause infection. The seeds act like a fish hook so they can only move forward, not backward which makes them very difficult to remove. After our hikes I spend a good amount of time brushing out my dogs and checking them over thoroughly (especially on their paws between their toes) after walking through areas with foxtails.
 How do you know if your dog has a foxtail? Signs are excessive sneezing (foxtail in nose), lump on skin that is painful to touch (paw or undercoat), violent shaking of head (foxtail in ear) or pawing at eye. Wherever the foxtail is located, once it’s in the dog it should be examined by a vet in order to make sure the entire object is removed.
A Bit onTicks
On a recent weekend hike both of my boys played in some tall grass and shrubs. After outdoor activities like this I like to check them over thoroughly for ticks. In addition to keeping my dogs on flea & tick control, I run my fingers through the fur with enough pressure to feel any abnormalities in the skin. If I do feel a small lump I pull the fur apart to see if it is a tick (may look like a small black or brown pimple and legs may be visible). Ticks enter the body clockwise so they should be removed counterclockwise with tweezers and special care should be taken to make sure the head of the tick is removed completely. Should any part of the tick remain in the skin, the dog should visit the vet so the area does not get infected.
The weather is beautiful and it’s fun to enjoy the outdoors with our dogs so don’t let these things stop you, just be aware that they are out there! |
We have an exciting new program I want to share with everyone and it’s called DAWGs at Dioji! Each weekday we bring one dog from DAWG (Dog Adoption & Welfare Group) to Dioji to play, socialize and get out of their kennels for a day of fun. Look at the front desk each day to see which dog is out in the yard that day – you may even want to adopt one! Everyone here at Dioji is thrilled about inviting a DAWG friend to come and play!
Kirby Wendel
Twist n’ Treat
Tug-A-Jug
My name is Mr. Silky. Well, that's what my owners call me after I've been to see Ian at Dioji. My real name is Casey, but after seeing Ian, it becomes "Mr. Silky ". oh yeah. When you're a Lab-Golden mixture, you shed a lot, so my owners take me to Ian so they don't have to use the Dust Buster everyday! Ian is very thorough and checks me over very carefully and makes sure that my owners know about how I'm doing. Because it is Spring time, my owners had Ian give me the Furminator Treatment, which really gets into the undercoat. I'm in a win win situation because my owners can't keep their hands off of me and their house is so much cleaner too! 
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