~ It's Foxtail Season -- Beware! ~

As the weather heats up, weed-type grasses become dry, and reproduce by way of cone-shaped bunches of seeds which are pointed at one end, and feathery at the other.  These are called plant awns, or "foxtails," and if you've ever walked through wild grasses in California, you've no doubt collected them in your socks.  That can be an annoyance, but in dogs, foxtails can cause infection and other potentially fatal conditions.

Because a foxtail has a sharp point at one end, and several spiny points at the other end which feather out, it can't move in reverse. The foxtail can catch on your dog's fur, and work its way through to the skin, traveling forward with each movement your dog makes.  Worse yet, it will continue to burrow through the skin, and begin making its way into deeper tissues.  At this point, you may find a raised, red sore, often with a soft spot or draining hole in the center.  The most common places for foxtails to enter the skin are feet (especially between toes), legs and anal or vulva areas, but they can enter at any point on your dog.

In addition to invading skin, a foxtail can also enter an ear canal, mouth, nasal passage, eye, anus, vulva, prepuce or just about any area imaginable, especially those areas with cavities/entryways or pockets.  If your dog gets a foxtail in his nose, he will likely sneeze violently, and may have bloody nasal discharge.  A foxtail in the eye area will cause severe squinting, redness of the eye, and usually a thick, yellow discharge.  Your dog may cough or snort repeatedly if she gets a foxtail in her throat/tonsil area, or shake her head if there's a foxtail in her ear.

If you suspect a foxtail in your dog, it's critical to get it removed as soon as possible.  As mentioned earlier, foxtails migrate, and they can end up in deep tissues, causing infection in your dog's inner ear, eye, chest, abdomen, spine, brain, deep muscle, and other tissues.  Obviously if the foxtail is removed before it migrates to these deep tissues, it is less likely to cause serious disease.  In addition, a foxtail can be extremely difficult to locate precisely once it has traveled, causing extensive damage to surrounding tissue, and partially broken down.  If you think your dog may have a foxtail, please make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Prevention, of course, is preferable.  Some things you can try are: Keep areas around your home weed free, or at least mowed very frequently (before foxtails can form).  Keep your dog out of weed-infested areas. Check your dog's feet and coat daily, and brush or comb the coat to catch hidden foxtails.  Have your dog's feet and/or coat shaved/clipped as needed.

Above all, realize that foxtails can cause serious health problems, and protect your dog by addressing any suspected foxtail-related issues immediately.  Have a fun and healthy summer - from your friends at Blue Cross Pet Hospital!

-Contributed by Melissa Noakes, DVM