Why You Should Fear Foxtails

As an ER vet, I officially mark the start of spring when I see several dogs over the course of a 10-hour shift with the same presenting complaint: sudden sneezing. And I’m not talking seasonal allergies.

Let me explain: Throughout the rainy season, annual grasses releasing foxtails grow quickly. As temperatures rise, the foxtail-shaped tip of each grass blade dries out and the individual awns take a ride on any passing object. This plant is engineered by nature to spread its seed, and the foxtail is actually designed to burrow further into an object with each movement, making it a major problem for small animals passing by, including dogs.

There is no escape. The pesky seeds from these dried grasses get stuck everywhere, and I mean everywhere — especially in pup’s fur. Many pet parents have heard the warnings about foxtails and know to avoid them as much as possible. What many don’t know, however, is that they can cause severe — and potentially deadly — consequences.

Why Foxtails Are Dangerous for Dogs

While foxtails are often caught in the fur and can be quickly removed, they can also migrate internally through several common routes such as the nose, ears, and eyes. They can even penetrate through the skin or through a dog’s genital openings. If these problematic hitch-hiking seeds find their way inside of a pet’s body, they can cause many serious problems. Once internalized, foxtails can wreak havoc on a dog’s body, causing internal abscesses and even infections of the bones around the spinal cord. I have also seen cases of foxtails getting lodged in the abdominal organs or lungs.

Checking Your Dog for Foxtails

While foxtails aren’t always easy to spot on dogs, their presence is noticeable through various telltale symptoms, depending on their location in the body. Look out for the following symptoms your dog might display during foxtail season:

• Nose: violently sneezing and pawing at the nose, and sometimes a bloody nose.

• Eyes: rubbing the eye, squinting and pain, excessive tearing or discharge, or an eye “glued shut.”

• Ears: head tilt or violent shaking of the head from side to side, pain, discharge, or odor.

• Mouth/Throat: gagging, loud coughing, difficulty swallowing (you will notice your pet having “exaggerated swallowing” movements, like when you have a sore throat), and possibly increased odor.

• Paws: continuous licking of the paw or pad, or the appearance of a swollen “bubble” between the toes, or a small “hole” in the skin indicative of a draining tract, which is the path the foxtail is taking under the skin (pictured).

• Under skin: formation of sores or abscesses.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see your veterinarian immediately for a check-up. If a foxtail is found relatively superficially in the skin or nose, it can be removed rather simply. If a foxtail has moved into the lungs or deeply into the nose or genitals, an endoscope can be used for its location and removal.

An endoscopy involves the use of a high-tech instrument with a specialized video camera and small grabbing tools that can be passed through the mouth, nose, or rectum and is a lot less invasive than traditional surgical methods. However, if the foxtail has entered the belly or lungs, surgery is sometimes the only treatment possible.

While it’s best to avoid areas where foxtails grow, if your dog has been exposed to the grass, make sure to brush their coat well, feel all over the body with your hands, and perform a thorough inspection of the ears, nose, between the toes and paw pads, and underneath the collar after each romp outside. It’s important to learn about the dangers of this plant, take extra precautions, and remove foxtails immediately. Be overly cautious during foxtail season so you and your pup can enjoy a drama-free summer outdoors.