Foxtails Are on the Rise

By: Gary Richter, DVM, MS

Springtime in the Bay Area means a lot of things. The rain is ending, the sun is shining, and foxtails are growing. Most seasoned dog owners in the area are familiar with these little rascals. Foxtails are the common name for a group of grasses that produce long wispy seed heads that resemble fields of wheat. In the early spring, these grasses are green, lush and very nice to look at. However, as the season progresses, all that will change.

As the hills fade from green to golden, the tops of the foxtails begin to dry and become brittle. They fall to the ground at the slightest breeze or touch. The dried foxtail on the ground has almost no weight and has a surprisingly sharp point on one end and is feathered out on the other. This creates an object that can easily find its way into a dog's ears, eyes, nose, mouth, fur, and skin. Due to their unique shape, the foxtail that has found its way onto a dog is often not easily removed. Much like a fishhook, it only travels in one direction.

Animals have encounters with foxtails while doing what they do best- wandering around, sniffing things. Dogs can easily sniff one of these up their nose or get one in their eye while in tall grass. Those dogs with longer fur are also at risk for getting them caught between their toes and footpads.

Dogs who have been exposed to foxtails may suddenly begin sneezing, shaking their head, gagging or squinting. Foxtails that get caught in the fur often slowly burrow their way into the skin causing persistent infections at the site of entry. Because of their tendency to travel in one direction (inwards), the longer the foxtail is in the dog, the more difficult it can be to remove. The longer the foxtail is in the dog, the greater the chance for infection.

Dogs (and occasionally cats) with foxtails are very uncomfortable. We all know how excruciating it can be to have a speck of sand in our eye. Imagine having a half-inch long, sharp-pointed object in your eye (or ear, or foot, etc). While they are painful, foxtails do not normally lead to serious health problems. There have however been documented cases of foxtails migrating from their point of entry to distant and critical areas such as the heart, lungs, spinal cord, and brain. Because of this risk, and the extreme discomfort experienced by dogs with foxtails, it is important that all foxtails be removed as soon as possible.

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