Foxtails and Barbed Grasses
There are many varieties of foxtails, both native and
non-native, but only some have harmful spurs. Among them is foxtail barley,
which is found throughout the U.S. except in the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast
states, and also grows throughout Canada and in parts of Mexico.
In an interview with The Bark, botanist William Lauenroth
of the University of Wyoming warned that Midwestern states have seen a sharp
increase in foxtail-related infection rates in field dogs. Sporting dogs often
run through thick brush where they can inhale or swallow foxtails.
Lauenroth is working with the AKC and sporting dog groups
to combat grass awn disease, also known as grass awn migration disease. They
suspect that barbed grasses, in particular Canada wildrye, planted on land
where field dogs train, may have caused the spike in cases of the disease.
Lauenroth discovered that not only has Canada wildrye been
planted in the Midwest, it is also common along the east coast.
Why Foxtails Are So Dangerous to Pets
In late spring and early summer, foxtail plant heads turn
brown and dry, and scatter across the landscape. The tiny spikes on the plant
heads allow them to burrow into soil, and wildlife also helps spread them
around.
The foxtails eventually and inevitably make their way into
the noses, eyes, ears, mouths, and just about every other opening of dogs'
bodies, including the vulva and penis. They can get deep into your dog's
nostril or ear canal or under the skin in no time, and often too fast for you
to notice them.
These deadly little plant heads can burrow into your dog's
fur and pierce the skin, often between the toes. They can end up virtually
anywhere in your pet's body, and symptoms depend on where the foxtail is
located. For example, if your dog is shaking her head, there could be a foxtail
in an ear canal. If she's suddenly sneezing uncontrollably, she could have one
in her nose. Foxtails in the lungs can cause coughing and difficulty breathing.
A dog's body isn't capable of processing foxtails, either
degrading or decomposing them. To make matters worse, foxtails carry bacteria
and can only move in one direction (forward). Unless they are found early, they
can continue to travel throughout a dog's body, creating abscesses, damaging
tissue, and causing grass awn disease.
A grass awn infection can be very difficult to diagnose, in
part because the infection occurs behind the migrating foxtail. In addition,
foxtails are hard to see using traditional imaging techniques, because they are
small, covered with infection and scar tissue, and are invisible on x-rays.
As you can probably imagine, once a foxtail is roaming
around inside your dog's body, it can be incredibly difficult to find. It's not
uncommon for veterinarians to perform multiple surgeries before a foxtail is
finally located and removed.
Protecting Your Pet from Foxtails and Grass Awn Disease
If you suspect your dog has been exposed to foxtails or is
exhibiting suspicious symptoms, I recommend you consult your veterinarian or an
emergency animal clinic immediately to find out how to proceed.
Obviously, avoiding foxtail exposure altogether should be
the goal, but that's not always possible. If your dog does encounter foxtails,
it's important to carefully comb through his coat – and also check his ears,
mouth, and between his toes – a few times each day to remove any that you find
before they have an opportunity to wreak havoc on your pet's health.
You might also want to investigate these safety devices
other dog owners have created to keep their canine companions free of foxtails:
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