Pet Summer Safety: Protecting Your Pets From Foxtails This Season

Summer is the season for sunny strolls and long hikes with our canine companions! Unfortunately, it’s also the season for dangerous grass seed heads to dry out and affix themselves to unsuspecting pets. Here at Mountainside, we're seeing an influx of foxtail seed cases coming in for removal and treatment. Whether you're hitting the trails or sticking close to home, it's important to be aware of foxtails! In this pet summer safety blog, we'll teach you how to recognize foxtails, what to do if your dog encounters foxtails, and when to seek veterinary care. 

What Are Foxtails? 

Foxtail plants are a type of grass with tall stalks and barbed seed heads. It's mostly found in the western half of the United States but can pose a risk for pets anywhere nationwide. Flourishing all summer long, these spiky seed heads have evolved to burrow into the ground where they fall. 

Different varieties of foxtail grass will look somewhat different, but they all have a tuft at the top of the plant that looks like a fox's fluffy tail. That's where the name "foxtail" comes from. They often grow together in thick clumps and prefer direct sunlight to shaded areas. 

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Why Are Foxtail Seeds So Dangerous to Pets? 
Foxtail's barbed seeds are designed to burrow into hard ground so they can grow and flourish anywhere! They're just as good at sneaking into our pet's fur and burrowing under the skin. Once inside your pet's body, foxtails can cause serious complications, including abscesses, swelling, pain, and even death. Foxtails are so dangerous to dogs because they do not break down over time in the body. Instead, they continue to cause damage until they're found and removed. 

Keep in mind that foxtails aren't only a problem for dogs! Kitties who spend time outdoors can also brush against or step on these barbed seed awns. If your cat spends time outdoors and you have foxtails in your neighborhood, it's important to regularly check them for signs of foxtail trouble. ​

How Pets Are Affected By Foxtails

Most commonly, foxtails will attach to your pet's coat and burrow into the skin. However, they can also be inhaled, lodged in the eyes or ears, swallowed, and embedded in the paws. Sometimes, foxtails burrow through the skin and find their way into the spine, chest, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling or swallowing foxtail seeds is particularly dangerous as they can migrate into and damage the lower airways, lungs, and other internal organs.
 
Signs of Foxtail Trouble

It may not always be obvious that your pet has run into trouble with foxtail seeds. In some cases, advanced diagnostic tests and procedures may be required to identify and remove the culprit. If you and your pets live where foxtails are abundant, watch for the following behaviors: 

• Head shaking or pawing at ears and/or eyes
• Signs of distress, like limping or difficulty breathing
• Snorting/sneezing
• Excessively licking one area of the body

You may also notice physical symptoms, such as: 

• Lumps or bumps under the coat
• Swelling, redness, or areas of tenderness
• Lethargy, depression, and decreased appetite
• Redness, discharge, or swelling around the eyes

Left untreated, foxtails often result in infection and inflammation, which can cause tissue damage and even bone infections. If you suspect foxtails are causing your pet's symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away! 

Foxtail Safety Tips

Early removal can be the key to preventing painful infections and serious complications. If you live somewhere with foxtails, it's important to always check your pet for foxtail seeds after walks or time spent outdoors. 

Common spots to check include: 

• Between the toes and around the paw pads
• In and around the eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth
• In pet’s fur and close to the skin
• Around the tail, groin, and genitals

If you see a foxtail seed in your pet’s fur or on the skin’s surface, you can remove it with clean tweezers. 

When To Call Your Vet

Always call your vet if your pet shows any of the above symptoms. You should also schedule an appointment if a foxtail has penetrated the skin or become lodged in the nose, ears, eyes, or mouth. Trying to remove an embedded foxtail seed yourself can break the seed head and leave pieces behind. These fragments continue to burrow and cause further damage.

During an exam, your veterinarian will assess the suspected foxtail injury site, prescribe pain medications as needed, and thoroughly clean the wound to prevent further complications. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove foxtail seeds or treat infection resulting from embedded foxtails. 

Every summer when the foxhead grasses begin to dry out, we see dozens of pets with foxtail-related complications. If you suspect your pet has an embedded foxtail seed, don't wait! Contact us as soon as possible to schedule an exam and removal. 
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