Foxtail Grasses & Pets

Pets can be afflicted by many issues, and the wise owner keeps an eye out for potential problems at all times. Even seemingly innocent things such as certain grasses can cause harm to pets. Foxtails may look harmless, especially when not in full bloom, but can cause severe damage to pets in extreme cases. Even when the pet escapes serious harm, a foxtail can cause a great deal of discomfort if not dealt with quickly.

  1. About Foxtails

    • Foxtail grasses seem innocuous enough while they're young and green, when they look much like any other grass. As the season progresses, they develop seed heads composed of a series of individual sections stacked one on top of another. While they're green, the heads typically remain in one section, but when they dry out, each section separates easily from the others to become a small, arrowhead-shaped seedpod. Each pod has tiny hair-like barbs that hold the foxtail in place once it embeds in fur or skin.

    Dangers

    • Foxtails can be dangerous when the pointed heads work themselves through an animal̵7;s coat and into the skin, forced in by the animal's normal movements. Once the sharp tip reaches the skin, it continues to move inward, piercing the skin and causing irritation that can result in abscesses. The pods can also lodge in an animal̵7;s eye, ear or throat, creating a never-ending source of irritation and infection. They may also lodge is in the webbing between a dog̵7;s toes and work into the skin before they're noticed. An embedded foxtail can even move throughout the body and may end up damaging the heart, lungs or other organs, resulting in serious illness or even death.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms of a foxtail vary depending on its location on the body. If lodged in the foot, an animal may chew repeatedly at his foot, and a lump may be visible on the foot or lower leg. An animal with a foxtail in his eye may exhibit some discharge or swelling, and typically keeps the eye shut. A foxtail lodged in the ears can cause constant head shaking and pawing at the ears, and a foxtail in the nose will cause frequent and repeated sneezing. If the foxtail is in the throat, the pet may cough or gag repeatedly. In most cases, the pet will require the assistance of a veterinarian to remove the foxtail.

    Control

    • All foxtail grasses should be destroyed as soon as they're discovered. Dig them up, burn them or use a pet-safe herbicide. Removal is best done before the seed heads develop, to keep the foxtails from growing back. The area can be checked early the following spring to remove any plants that may have survived. Check pets carefully for foxtails on a regular basis with a fine-tooth comb, and remove and destroy any that are found.