Giant Hogweed

[Rascal]

Has anyone had any experience of their dog coming into contact with giant hogweed? What was the effect on the dog and the treatment?

Rascal

[Judy]

Yes and nothing untoward happened, they only brush past it though, don't run through it nor chew it, its beside a path.

[Stacia]

Loads of it round here, dogs have been through it once or twice, nothing untoward happened. Though I do my best to stay away from it. It does travel, started off along the stream, now up through the fields.

[Nickheref]

I am not that too far from Jelinga and there is loads of it here too. It has never been a problem with my dogs but do not strim it on a sunny day unless you are completely covered up or have a long shower straight afterwards. I only did it once and bore the scars for about 2 years. Oddly when it first comes through and is about 4 inches high my dogs seem quite keen to chew it and have not had any adverse effects. Whilst I don't encourage it it is difficult to prevent if you are exercising a lot of dogs at the same time.

[trekmoor]

I see that stuff around here but so far none of my dogs have been harmed by it.

Wullie

[Rascal]

Thanks you guy's, it might not be the cause but a mate has a lab and for the last three years at this time of year she comes out in a rash which drives her nuts and she literally scratches herself raw...The vets haven't really come up with a definite diagnosis despite skin scrapings etc.but she has been shampooed with Malaseb and has Isaderm antibiotic cream with no real relief....

I asked my mate if it could possibly be that because she regularly walks her by the river in these hot days and although my mate didn't realise what it was, it appears she regularly pushes through the stuff to get into the river...

This a picture of her top leg which is quite red and very itchy....



She will scratch and rub it now until she's bald and red raw....My mate says she's worse if she lays in the sun....

Any other ideas?

Rascal

[Judy]

Watercress, nettles, Ragwort, you name it they can be allergic to it, does Piriton help?

[Stacia]

Giant Hogweed was mentioned on TV yesterday I believe, I didn't see it but was told about it. Apparently the little spines on the leaves can stick into the dog's coat and cause problems to both owner and dog. Might be worth mentioning this to the vet and having a good look at the skin to see if some of the spines (I guess like stinging nettles) are stuck in the skin? Otherwise I have no idea unless there is something in the water?

[Stacia]

Here is a link! Sounds a bit alarmist!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... ct-it.html

[Judy]

And here's the difference between Giant and Common; http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/blog/blog260811.htm

I think the stuff we have here may just be very large common Hogweed by the looks.