Gardening Can Save You Money on Vet Bills: The Danger of Foxtails and Why “Wait and See” Can Lead to Surgery
Foxtails are aptly named - not just because they often have bushy, brushlike awns. These plants are sneaky, and good at getting into places where they are then exceedingly difficult to remove - noses, ears, in between toes.
But what are foxtails? It turns out that there are multiple grasses that fall under this umbrella term - brome, millet and barley are just a few. In the hot western sun, these grasses dry out and one big sniff from an unsuspecting pup is enough to separate spiky seed from stalk. The arrowhead-shaped tip of the seed pod is designed for clinging on and burrowing into the earth, but all too commonly they burrow into our pets’ coats, and eventually their skin.
Common signs that your pet has a foxtail somewhere may vary based on where the foxtail is, so context - i.e. time of year, where your pet was playing most recently - is important. A foxtail in the ear may seem like an ear infection, as a pet may scratch excessively and their ear may be red and swollen. Instead of a yeasty smell, however, the odor may be far fouler and accompanied with pus or blood. A foxtail in the throat may lead to constant hacking as the pet attempts to cough up the irritating fiber. A foxtail in the nose may lead to excessive sneezing, possibly with bloody discharge. A foxtail in the eye could cause it to swell and leak. A foxtail in the body wall or between the toes often leaves a weeping "draining tract” of fluid or pus as it burrows into the pet.
No matter how the foxtail enters the body, it always has the capacity to do enormous damage as it tunnels into the soft tissues - every movement from the pet encourages that sharp tip to burrow deeper and deeper. In some cases, it may infiltrate vital organs like the brain or lungs or cause life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia. If you suspect your pet has a foxtail, it is best to act quickly. A sedated foxtail probe - meaning the doctor searches for the grass awn with forceps before it can get too far - is far less invasive and costly than the ultrasounds and CT scans that may be necessary to locate a migrated foxtail, and the surgery to remove it.
What you can do at home
Keeping the grass of your lawn and curb strip trimmed is a good start to preventing your pet from picking up a foxtail, but you should still thoroughly check their coat, pawpads, ears and between their toes after playing outside. Check yourself for good measure - foxtails can cling just as easily to your clothes as they can fur, and may fall off in your home. There are also special booties and masks that you can purchase if you are worried about encountering a foxtail while in the park or on a walk. As silly as your dog may feel wearing it, that $60 protective mask may avert a $6,000 surgery.
[
TL;DR
There are multiple different grasses that are known colloquially as foxtails, but they all have sharp, spiky seedpods and broomlike awns. If you see them, especially during the height of summer, stay clear
Re-consider off-leash romps in open fields during the dry part of the year
Cats can get foxtails too! Be mindful to check outdoor cats when they come back inside, paying extra attention to ears and eyes
Don’t wait - if you see your pet get a foxtail up their nose, in their ear, eye or mouth, or find a draining tract elsewhere on their body, seek veterinary care as soon as you can