Foxtail/grass seeds & iodine treatment?

4922 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by arxhinal, Mar 26, 2015

Brightelf

Discussion Starter · Jun 5, 2008

I know how terribly dangerous a foxtail or grass seed can be, especially if untreated. Tuesday, there was a bump on Grimm's sternum, with a little owie there at the summit. The vet thought it maybe is a tick head or grass seed. She gave me an iodine salve "to draw it out." Does idodine draw things out? Just a few days of using the iodine, the hard bump is now squishy, and I think there are now two holes.. one looks older. Can it be that a seed made it's way out due only to iodine drawing it out?

The vet said in 5 days, if the bump is not gone, to bring him in for a short little surgery to remove the seed. Anyone hear of iodine drawing out something as tough as a barbed grass seed? She would not have suggested it if it had no history of working.. she would rather make the money for the quick surgery, I am sure.

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Lauri & The Gang

· #2 · Jun 5, 2008

Are you sure it was iodine? I use Ichthammol as a drawing salve:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_bituminosulfonate

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Brightelf

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 5, 2008

The tube says poly-vinyl-pyrolidon iodine complex. Lauri, thanks for the link! Can iodine draw stuff out, too? Can a grass seed that is still near the skin surface be drawn out? We will get the little surgery if not.. but the vet felt it could possibly well do the trick.

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Maedchen

· #4 · Jun 6, 2008

Just a few days of using the iodine, the hard bump is now squishy, and I think there are now two holes.. one looks older. Can it be that a seed made it's way out due only to iodine drawing it out?

No, I wouldn't think so- and if, it would probably use the same way as the entry. Why didn't the vet give him the homeopathic silicea? This will draw anything out for sure!

But since you mentioned two holes, maybe it could be a bite- like from a snake or spider?
I would def. apply warm compresses to keep "things moving".

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Brightelf

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 6, 2008

Warm compresses are not a bad idea, Mädchen. Not sure why she didn't suggest the sillicea, they have all kinds of homeopathic tablets there, a salve would be what I would expect too, or drops.

I will continue with the iodine. The lump was initially really hard and the size of a really BIG cherry, and now it is a little smaller and much softer and squishier. Does that mean the iodine is helping?

The vet only guessed it may be a grass seed or a tick head.. but not really sure. I only got a teeny tube of the iodine, i will need to pick some more up tomorrow.

Thank you for the input, Mädchen and Lauri.

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arxhinal

· #6 · Mar 26, 2015

Hi, I just found these comments and wondered if you could tell me more about the use of silicea for foxtails? My 86 lb lab might have one and I read about silicea and started him on it today, but I am not sure of the proper dose. The vet could not diagnose it, but after doing internet searches myself, I think this is the issue on his front paw...very tender to the touch and odd shaped, with what look like little pustules, but nothing comes out. We see a dermatologist in a few days but i am worried about it traveling. I have foxtails all over where I live. Thank you for your help.

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