Protecting Your Dog From Foxtails
Summer adventures with your dog can quickly turn stressful if you’re not on the lookout for one dangerous, yet unsuspecting plant: foxtails. This common summer weed might look harmless, but it can cause serious health problems for your pup.
Foxtails are the barbed seed heads of certain types of grasses, especially those that grow tall and dry out in the heat. In states like California and other parts of the West, foxtails pop up in open fields, roadsides, trails, and even in your backyard as the weather gets warmer.
Their pointed shape helps them burrow into the soil to grow. But unfortunately for your pup, that same shape also makes them perfect for burrowing into your dog’s body. Here’s what the team at Cherry Creek Veterinary Hospital has to say about these pernicious little plants!
Why Foxtails Are So Dangerous
Unlike regular grass seeds, foxtails don’t just cling to your dog’s fur and tangle it up. They keep moving. Once a foxtail attaches to your dog’s coat or skin, it can travel deeper, piercing the skin, and even entering into tissue.
Foxtails have been found in dogs’ ears, eyes, noses, and paws, and in the worst cases, they can even get all the way into your pet’s lungs or other internal organs.
In other words, foxtails are terrible news.
Signs your dog may have picked up a foxtail include:
- Persistent sneezing or pawing at the nose
- Red, swollen, or squinting eyes
- Limping or licking between the toes
- Head shaking or ear scratching
- Sudden swelling or abscesses
If you notice any of these signs, contact your vet immediately. Left untreated, a foxtail embedded in your pet’s body can lead to infection and even require surgery to remove.
How to Protect Your Dog From Foxtails
Even though foxtails abound in California, especially in the late summer, there are ways to reduce the risks for your pet.
First, avoid any tall, dry grasses where foxtails are likely to be lying in wait for an unsuspecting victim to latch onto.
If Fido does run off into the grasses, inspect him for foxtails right away. Get into the habit of brushing your dog after any time spent outside, especially on walks or hikes in fields or wild areas.
Pay close attention to her paws, ears, armpits, and belly. Long-haired dogs may need to be groomed more regularly during the summer and early fall to help stay ahead in the game of foxtail hide-and-seek.
In your own yard, keep the grass trimmed and neat to prevent foxtails from growing. If the grass doesn’t go to seed, it won’t produce foxtails!
Foxtail Treatment for Dogs in Sacramento, CA
If you live in the Sacramento area, our caring veterinary team at Cherry Creek Veterinary Hospital in Antelope, CA is here for your dogs.
Especially during foxtail season.
We can help remove any embedded foxtails and treat infections and injuries that arise as a result of these weeds. Call us today at (916) 349-2755 to schedule an appointment!