Foxtail barley is a perennial grass,
commonly found in yards, fields, along roadsides, trails and in
most canyon areas. They grow quickly during the rainy months, in
almost any soil condition, and dry out during the warm summer
months. Once foxtail grasses dry out, the seed detaches easily and
sticks to clothing and fur. Foxtails can enter a dog's body in a
variety of ways and once they enter, they are like a barbed fish
hook: The seed only wants to move forward, burrowing into the skin.
It's most common for a foxtail seed to enter a dog's body through
the skin, nose, ears, paws, and eyes. Foxtails are very tenacious,
painful and dangerous to your pet.
Foxtails in the ears, nose, and eyes are very
serious and can ultimately be life-threatening if they are not
treated promptly.
Thoroughly brush and inspect your dog's coat if
it has been in a weed/foxtail infested area. Run your hands over
their coat and look for foxtails and burrs. Dogs with long hair are
particularly susceptible to foxtails.
Foxtails burrow. The outsides of the "seedlings"
contain a bacterium with enzymes used to break down vegetation.
This bacterium also allows the seedling to burrow into a dog along
the tunnels of pus created by the enzyme.
A foxtail can literally go anywhere in the dog.
For example, they have been found inside the brain, anal glands,
eyes, ears, jowls, feet, spinal cord, lungs, and vagina.
Ears: The symptoms are clear: a head tilt
or head shaking violently from side to side is the immediate
response of a dog that has a foxtail in its ear. Later, the
symptoms look like an ear infection. Your vet will conduct an
otoscopic exam, and hopefully, a simple retrieval of the foxtail.
The longer you wait, the deeper the foxtail may travel, the more
damage it may do, and the more difficult it may be to treat. The
larger the dog, the less noticeable the symptoms so monitor your
dog carefully.
Eyes: Symptoms for foxtails in the eyes
are; discharge, a squint, or an eye glued shut, and usually pawing
at the eye. Keep your dog from pawing at their eye and get to a vet
immediately. Foxtails cannot be flushed
from the eye with water or eye-wash, nor can they be removed by
applying ointment. Once here, your dog will usually need to be
placed under a general anesthesia for removal of the foxtail. (A
very calm dog can have a foxtail removed from its eye without the
anesthesia, but most cannot, as it is very painful).
Nose: If a foxtail has been inhaled and
lodged in the nasal cavity, the dog will sneeze repeatedly and
violently, often banging their nose on the floor with each
sneeze. If blood comes from the nose as
a consequence of sneezing, you are almost assured it is a foxtail.
Get your dog to a vet quickly. Once at the vet, the dog will be
anesthetized, its nose scoped, and the search for the foxtail will
begin.
Mouth: Dogs can get foxtails in their
mouth. The symptoms of a foxtail stuck in the gums, between teeth
or back of the throat include a painful mouth (difficulty eating
and drinking), gagging, difficulty swallowing when eating, etc. If
swallowed, foxtails can be passed. However, if it gets caught in
periodontal pockets, the tongue, in between teeth or in the back of
the throat, it can cause problems. You can tell if this has
occurred, not only from the above symptoms, but possibly your pet
may have a foul odor coming from the mouth. Your vet will
anesthetize the dog, then locate and remove the foxtail.
Interdigital: If a foxtail is lodged in
the paw or under the coat, a lump will usually form that is painful
to touch. Depending on how deep the foxtail has traveled, they can
usually be surgically removed.
Symptoms are continuous licking of the foot or
pad, or the appearance of a bubbly swelling between the toes.
Sometimes the bubble shows up and disappears, then shows up
somewhere else on the dog’s paw.
Vagina: This area is hard to spot symptoms
at for they are not as obvious as in other areas. Look for a
swollen area in the groin and constant licking of the vaginal area.
Take the dog to a vet immediately.
Wounds: Symptoms may include a painful
lump under the coat or an open abscess. Although generally foxtails do not lead to death, they can
cause severe injury.
After spending even a very short time
in areas with foxtails, it is wise to carefully inspect your dog
from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail.
Have him examined if you see any of the
tell-tale signs of a foxtail imbedded anywhere on your pets body.
Any foxtail that enters through the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, feet,
or vagina, if ignored, has the potential to travel anywhere in the
dog’s body. Severe injury and even death can occur if the foxtail
reaches the dog’s brain, spinal cord, heart or lungs.
The best way to handle foxtail problems is
to prevent them!
Avoid foxtail infested areas.
