Taking your dog out for a summer walk in the park could be fun and exciting— but beware of foxtails! These weed-like grass with their sharp grass heads could pose some threat when ingested or get clinged on dogs playing outdoors. In this article, you will learn about the dangers of foxtails, what they look like on dogs and how to get rid of them.
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Content:
- What Do Foxtails Look Like on Dogs
- Why Do Dogs Eat Foxtails
- How to Prevent and Remove Foxtails From Dogs
- Conclusion
What Do Foxtails Look Like on Dogs
Foxtails on dogs look like a gray string of clustered sharp pairs of grass parts known as grass heads or seeds. Foxtails resemble bushy fox tails, a stack with many sharp strings protruding from one end.
They usually get stuck in the paws, flanks and underbelly. When dogs play and run over this grass, they get foxtails stuck on their coats. Hairy dogs are more prone to these problems because of the nature of their coat.
“When foxtails get on a dog’s coat, they can burrow into the skin and cause pain, infection and serious health conditions”, - Dr. Christina Fernandez
In the United States, grass awns are commonly known as foxtails with over 51% localizing in the ear canal of dogs, according to a study.
To help monitor your dog’s behavior when you are away from home, install the Petcube Camera and take advantage of its interactive feature and two-way audio, which allows you to redirect your dogs from playing on overgrown lawns with risk of foxtails.
Foxtails are sharp enough to enter soft tissue and migrate inside the body, causing some damage and putting the dog at risk of getting complications. If these foxtails get attached on dogs, inhaled during grooming or even ingested, they may cause some severe symptoms such as:
- Sneezing
- Nose bleeding
- Respiratory distress
- Skin swelling
- Reddening
- Pain
- Walking difficulties
- Itching
- Discomfort
- Head shaking
- Gagging
Symptoms caused by foxtails could be endless. Due to their indigestibility, foxtails when ingested, could lodge somewhere in the mouth or trachea and cause some tear to organs like the lungs. This could lead to irritation and severe pulmonary obstructions or complications.
Why Do Dogs Eat Foxtails
Dogs are curious animals. They can pounce on grass, play with it or even eat it because they like its texture, color or taste.
Apart from curiosity, it is believed that dogs could possibly eat grass and also foxtails because they may have some dietary deficiency or a need to throw up. On the contrary, research has proven otherwise, suggesting that dogs eat grass because it is an ancestral behavior they inherited.
“My dog likes to eat grass, wood chips and dirt. He throws up whenever he eats grass”, - Reddit User
How to Prevent and Remove Foxtails From Dogs
Preventing your dog from getting foxtails is easy. Stopping them from playing outdoors unguided or going on the lawn with overgrown grass could be effective in preventing foxtails from getting on them.
If walking your dog is essential, then consider the following preventive measures:
- Trim down the fur on hairy dogs to reduce the chances of trapping foxtails.
- Use a shorter leash to control your dog’s movement.
- Use protective dog coats and pet booties to prevent contact with foxtails.
- Check for foxtails on your dog after walking is a good practice to prevent them from staying on your dog.
Removing foxtails from dogs, on the other hand, depends on different factors. Foxtails attached to the paws and feet or dogs can easily be removed with tweezers.
When foxtails penetrate into the body, gets ingested, swallowed or snorted in, it becomes difficult to remove with tweezers and will need the attention of a vet. In some cases, as I have witnessed, snorting in foxtails could lead to difficulty in breathing which is termed an emergency.
Emergencies will incur a lot of vet fees, which is easy to offset using the Petcube Emergency Fund. This fund offsets up to $3000 in vet fees and offers a 27% discount if you register now using the exclusive link.
In terminal cases of foxtails, the vet would recommend an appropriate treatment option, which may include surgery for removal of foxtails and other systemic medication and therapies.
Conclusion
Foxtails have the potential of posing a great threat to dogs. Their size and sharp features aid them penetrate into the body. As they migrate, they pack dirt and even bacteria, leading to infection or trauma to soft tissue. Monitoring your dog’s whereabouts and regularly checking for foxtails on their body is good practice to reduce the risk of foxtails.