- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
While it can be a joy to watch your dog romp through the great outdoors, pet parents should take note of a particular summertime danger: foxtail grass.
Foxtails are those annoying, prickly seeds that get impossibly stuck to your socks and shoelaces in weedy areas. The seed’s shape is great for digging into the soil but poses potentially dangerous consequences for dogs. Here’s what all dog lovers need to know about foxtails.
If a foxtail seed gets lodged into your dog, it’s on a one-way trip to the inside of your animal. It won’t dissolve on its own.
Foxtail seeds have a sharp front tip that penetrates the skin or enters through an orifice, while the hooked barb prevents it from working its way back out. The seed is on a one-way trip to the inside of your animal. It won’t dissolve on its own.
Removal is the only option. Because foxtails are not your ordinary stickers, it can be a tricky proposition for a dog owner without medical training. A trip to your vet is the best course of action. If left untreated a seed can cause infections, abscesses, or worse. A foxtail seed can migrate through a dog’s body to the lungs or other vital organs, resulting in severe complications—or even death.
iStock/Iva Vagnerova
“If you notice that a seed is lightly embedded and you’re able to remove it, still schedule an appointment with your vet as there could be remnants left in the dog,” says Rover panelist and Chief Veterinarian at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Rebecca Greenstein. “Sometimes we can’t find the seed without advanced testing. If you know that your dog has had any exposure, it’s good to seek medical attention.”
According to Dr. Greenstein, awareness of this plant is the first step toward preventing your dog from its harmful consequences. “Familiarize yourself with what foxtail looks like and avoid long grass if you can,” she advises. “Once dog owners know the potential danger foxtail poses, they can help their pet avoid contact and take the proper course of action when exposed.”
Joey’s Story
Joey, a playful German Shepherd mix from California, is one extreme case. The curious pup developed swelling in his hip the day after a run-in with a tree stump. His regular veterinarian diagnosed and treated him for a bacterial infection, but the swelling returned.
After unsuccessful treatments, Joey was taken to the University of California at Davis Veterinary Hospital. Imaging specialists there performed an ultrasound which revealed a track running from the initial wound area toward his abdomen. At the end of the track, they saw a large foreign object. Surgery removed the foxtail, which had entered at the hip and migrated to within an eighth of an inch of his aorta. After a few days in the hospital, Joey went home, where he recuperated successfully.
How to identify a foxtail
Foxtails are so named because—you guessed it—they resemble a fox’s tail. Look for the hairy, bristle-like spines that grow upward from the stalk. There are many species of grasses in this group of weeds, and they can be found in most areas of the U.S., Canada, and the UK (though they’re less prevalent in the southeastern U.S.)
Foxtails spread very quickly after a wet spring. They are harmless in the winter months, but a real pest from mid-April through autumn, when the seeds dry and snag on fur. These grasses thrive in a variety of environments and especially in open areas such as roadsides, parks, trails, and fields.
They can also be found in your very own yard. Remove any you find. Pull them out or spray the plants with vinegar on a hot day.
Foxtail types
These weedy grasses have many names! These include:
- Bristlegrass
- Yellow or green foxtail
- Giant foxtail
- Cheatgrass
- June grass
- Downy Brome
- Timothy
- Awns/grass awns/grass seed
Signs your dog has a foxtail issue
If you suspect your dog has been around foxtail grass, Dr. Greenstein says the signs will show where the seed has entered the dog’s body.
“If the seed was inhaled through the snout, for example, your dog may begin to experience sneezing, nasal discharge, and snorting. If it has migrated through the paw, you may find that your dog is limping,” Greenstein says.
“Unfortunately, if you are unaware of exposure, this wide array of symptoms can make it difficult for pet owners to determine a foxtail seed as the source of their dog’s illness.”
iStock/caoyu36
Some signs your dog may have encountered foxtails include:
- An eye that has swollen shut or is squinting and leaking sticky discharge
- Bloody discharge from the nose
- Sneezing
- A tough time chewing or swallowing
- Refusing to eat
- Bad odor coming from the mouth, ears or nose
- Continuous licking or nipping at the paws or other areas
- Abscesses
- Open sores, which may be the remains of a burst abscess, but can still have the foxtail inside
“If you are aware that your dog has been exposed to a foxtail-infested area, take inventory on where the seed could’ve come in contact,” says Dr. Greenstein. “This can range from the dog’s snout to their mouth to the underside of their paws.”
If you believe that your dog may have come in contact with foxtail, make an appointment with your vet.
Keeping your dog foxtail-free
Prevention is key! This includes:
- Removing foxtails you find in your yard as well as avoiding foxtail-prone areas like open fields or overgrown paths and parks.
- Sticking to paved paths when walking and avoiding high grass or weeds.
- Checking your pet thoroughly after any potential exposure. Make sure to look between the toes, in the ears, armpits, and groin areas. Check any folded areas and do a thorough combing.
- If you have a long-haired dog, comb through their fur extra carefully as it may be more difficult to find where a seed has been lodged.
- If you attempt to remove a seed yourself, make sure you have the whole seed or it can migrate through the dog’s body. See your veterinarian if there’s a chance any seed parts were not removed.
Preventative gear is also available. This is most useful for dogs who are routinely off-leash in grassland areas. If your dog is regularly exposed to foxtails, consider dog shoes for paw protection or the OutFox Field Guard, which is designed to prevent foxtail exposure to a dog’s nose, ears, and mouth.
By educating yourself on these harmful plants, you are taking the proper steps to keep your pet safe, healthy, and happy during their time outdoors!
