Twilite Lady
SE Arizona Desert
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Joined: 06/24/2004
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We just moved back to the desert SW last weekd. Our miniature Aussie went after a lizard in the cacti. We've managed to get all the thorns off her "lips" but she has one embedded between her teeth. We've been trying to hold her to pull it out with tweezers and she's snapping at us. I know this hurts bad but anybody have any ideas on how to get it out without getting bit?
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Calpine
Southern CA
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Joined: 04/19/2008
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No use letting her suffer. Take her to a vet ASAP.
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Twilite Lady
SE Arizona Desert
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Joined: 06/24/2004
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Calpine, Thanks for the reply. My husband finally got her to calm down enough that he could pull it out with the tweezers. That had to have really hurt! Of course the first thing she did was run back to the cactus garden to chase lizards. My husband plans on removing the garden since the dog doesn't appear to understand what happened. Unfortunately there are no ER vets here and it would have taken us 2 hours to get to the one in Tucson, which we would have done if we couldn't get it out. I was hopeful that someone would have an idea on an easy way to extract it, like maybe baby teeting numbing gel or something... Anyway, thanks again.
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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The sticky side of duct tape, pressed against the boo boo site, may help get out some of those tiny, needle-like cactus thorns. We have a cactus garden in our front yard and I have more problems with it than our dogs do. Keep in mind that rattlesnakes like to inhabit cactus patches, too.
As an aside, I hear that Valley Fever is a danger to dogs in the SW desert area. We are supposed to keep doggies out of dusty areas, a good trick if you can manage it. I am not sure if a preventative vaccine is available, but would check on it if we moved there.
Judy
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Rangerdave
Austin Texas
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Joined: 07/04/2008
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we had a simular issue with our aussie when she was a puppy. she would escape out of the yard, and she was very clever in many ways. si i went out and purchased an electric collar fence. the wire runs around the area you want blocked off, the collar she wears, vibrates, then starts charging when the collar picks up the feild from the wire thats in the block off area.
I introduced her to the little flags that come with the kit to show here that the flags mean off limits. It took her about 4 tries before she got the hint and then no more.
She no longer wears the collar after about 4 months but i do keep the flags up and she dosent bother the fence or gate at all.
RD
2002 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme-Demco Kaddy SS Toader Camry
2 peeps 2 poops and lots bbq!
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Glad to hear you got them out! I bet those hurt! Poor baby....
Please watch for swelling in the areas just to be sure there are no tiny pieces left over. If you do see some swelling it might mean a trip to your vet is in order.
Best of luck with either removing the cacti or teaching your Aussie to stay away from them. It might be a challenge either way.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle....
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