Wednesday, May 2, 2012

on the job perils

One of our key team members is out of commission for a few days -- a victim of one of the many occupational hazards of his employment. It seems that while Elliot was at work entertaining the barn dogs in the usual fashion (rolling in grasses, and what-not), a nasty foxtail wound its way into his eye.

If you've ever been envious of California life, now you have a reason not to be. Foxtails are the devil incarnate for active canines because the barbed seeds are everywhere and are notorious for wriggling deep into eyes, noses, ears and even toes - causing everything from mild aggravation (we call them the "three hundred dollar booger") to death in extreme cases.

Elliot now has the dubious honor of being the first foxtail case of 2012 for the docs at the Animal Eye Care Clinic in Fremont. They expect hundreds more before the year is done. Pros that they are, they whisked him right in in between appointments this morning and got the barb out without issue. He heaved a sigh of relief and he's finally resting comfortably after a long and not-so-happy night of trying to tell us that a prickley alien had landed in his eye socket. We've got him loaded up on pain meds, antibiotics and various ointments now. It'll be nice to see him on the job again soon - Gris-Gris is said to be especially concerned about her missed appointments with Elliot.


14 comments:

  1. take care, Elliot
    don't leave those girls waiting too long

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  2. Poor Elliot!Get well soon baby boy, your kids need you!

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  3. Thanks for showing the picture of the foxtail. Wow, I bet that didn't feel good in Elliot's eye. Glad everything worked out. I am sure you were worried. Hope you feel better soon Elliot and Gris-Gris sure does too. You are the best teacher and play pal for the students that come under your wing. Get well soon handsome boy.

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  4. Ouch! I scratched my cornea once and the pain was mind-blowing--can't imagine having a foxtail in your eye feels any better! I hope Elliot's eye heals quickly and that he much more comfortable now that he's free of that nasty prickly thing. Is he going to apply for workdog's comp since he was injured on the job?

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  5. Poor Elliot! Foxtails are definitely the devil. Glad he's on the mend and will be back to entertaining the pups in no time.

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  6. Elliot my handsome boy....you poor thing!! Rest up and get better soon!!! Hugs, kisses, and belly rubs to you!!

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  7. Another 'poor Elliot' from me and The Collie. Our boy presented with a swollen tongue -- the on-call vet initially thought it was an oral cancer (which had killed one of his dogs). Fortunately it was only(!) a foxtail. So, better than an aggressive cancer but better yet to have it OUT.

    Best wishes to E for a quick recovery!

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  8. yikes! I've never heard of this! Get well soon Elliot :)

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  9. So glad that your sweet boy is OK. He's an amazing dog.

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  10. aww poor baby:( Hope he gets back to work soon!!

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  11. Poor Elliot! And in the eye, especially. Foxtails are just as bad over here in northern Nevada, especially when they get between toes. I've heard stories of them migrating through the body and lodging in the spine. Nasty, nasty, NASTINESS!

    Thinking of sweet Elliot and hoping recovery is quick.

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  12. Poor Elliot! Imagine a pair of doggles would be appreciated. And why an E-collar? Hope he's out of that soon!

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  13. Oh goodness poor baby!!! I'm glad they were able to get that out quickly...we don't have those here in Texas. Yikes!!! I hope you recover quickly I'm sure your friends miss you like crazy! And the E-Collar...I'm sure that's so you won't rub at your eye or the ointment. It will be healed in no time and you can take that off and get a nice neck rub! Hugs & kisses from the Lone Star State. :-)

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