Let’s set the scene. You’ve just come home after taking your pooch, let’s call him “Dudley”, for a run in the beautiful golden meadow a few miles from home. Or maybe you kitty companion, “Floofy”, just came home from a night of prowling, even after you distinctly remember telling her not to go out the door! So, “Dudley” and “Floofy” have both come to their respective homes covered in these little white-ish, golden, brown, seeds that really stick to their coats. You, my friend, likely have a pet with foxtails, also called “grass seed awns”. These “sticky” little suckers are only doing what come naturally to them by sticking to your pet, that they “know” will travel to another area where said seed can then plant itself to spread the population.
Foxtails are found throughout North America and tend to thrive everywhere except Georgia, North and South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana. However, with climate change, the normal areas for foxtails are expanding and have recently started to become an issue in the South where they were rarely seen before. Places out west, especially the drier areas of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and even into Texas are prime areas to see these devilish little seeds. Now, that’s not to say you won’t see them if you live in any of the other states!
Foxtails are designed to move only one way, forward, never backward. Because of the way the little spiny protrusions are situated – which is what makes them feel “sticky” – they move easily through hair and into skin. They burry themselves into your pet’s coat or skin and keep moving further in creating a tract that not only is the way in for the foxtail seed, but also a way for other bacteria to get under your pets skin and potentially cause a secondary infection. If your pet has a foxtail embedded in their skin you may see a small hole in the skin that looks like a small puncture wound. Or you may see a small lump under the skin that looks slightly red or pink and may be warm to the touch. No matter what the presentation of an embedded foxtail, it is important to have it removed as soon as possible.
Some of the most common areas of the body to see foxtails are (in no particular order):
- Paws
- Nose
- Eyes
- Ears
- Mouth/throat
- Genitalia
- Lungs
Some of our more unlucky pets can get foxtails in their nose or eyes. Foxtails in the nose may present as sudden excessive sneezing. They almost can’t stop sneezing, and may panic because it can be difficult for them to catch their breath. When there is a foxtail in the eye, it usually isn’t in the “eye ball”, or globe, itself, but more likely to be around the globe, or in the conjunctiva, the mucous membranes around the eye. A foxtail in the eye will likely show as swollen shut, or very “squinty”. There may also be lots of tears or discharge from the eye(s), your pet may also be pawing or rubbing their eye(s).
“What can I do about this?!” you wonder. Well, the answer could be simple or a little more complicated depending on your pet’s situation. The first step, when you get home from your outing, is to make sure to go over your pet with a fine tooth comb, literally. Grab a comb and brush and start pulling those little foxtails out from their coat, making sure to get all the way down to the skin. Start at one end of their body and work towards the other, making sure not to miss their underbelly, groin area, armpits, in between each toe, in both ears, and around their eyes, especially if you have a pet with long eyebrows or a beard (Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzus, Maltese, Persians, etc.)… Oh! Don’t forget about under the tail too!
As we all know, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, so while it is nearly impossible to completely prevent your pet from coming in contact with foxtails there are products out there to help prevent your pet from getting a lot of foxtails in their coat.
- Protective boots – not the rubber balloon kind, but a leather or nylon boot can help keep foxtails from getting in between your dog’s toes – please send us pictures if you can get your cat to wear these!
- Goggles! Yes goggles for your pet will help protect their eyes.
- Jackets – jackets can be helpful, but given that foxtails are mostly seen in the warmer months a lighter, more breathable jacket would be most recommended.
If your pet is unlucky enough to need to have a foxtail removed, it is recommended you seek professional help as your pet may be in pain and need medication to help facilitate removal of the foxtail. Anytime your pet is sneezing excessively, coughing uncontrollably, or trying to vomit unproductively, you should immediately seek help from a full service veterinarian, or emergency veterinary hospital. Remember, foxtails are sneaky, so even if you didn’t see your pet near any foxtails, these symptoms can be your pet’s body trying to tell you something is wrong.
Author: Cheryl Miller, RVT, CVBL, FFCP (Veterinary), VCC
If you’d like to schedule an appointment or discuss a possible foxtail embedded in your pet’s fur, please call or text us at (843) 966-3362. You can also schedule an appointment online. You can also schedule a virtual appointment directly with Cheryl here.
References:
- UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “Foxtails and Dogs.” Discusses how foxtails migrate into tissues, causing abscesses and infections, with advice on removal techniques and veterinary care. Available at: https://healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/foxtails.
- San Francisco SPCA. “Protect Your Pet From the Dangers of Foxtails.” Highlights the risks of foxtails during spring and summer, including tips for prevention and recognizing symptoms of injury. Available at: https://www.sfspca.org/blog/protect-your-pet-from-the-dangers-of-foxtails/.
- WebMD Pets. “Foxtails: Why They’re Dangerous for Dogs.” Details how foxtails can cause abscesses, swelling, and even death if inhaled or embedded in tissues. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/foxtail-grass-and-your-dog.