CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (May 3, 2025) — It is springtime, folks, and in our region, that means foxtails.

I am rerunning this article from the same time last year in hopes of saving some pups (and kitties) from experiencing the trauma of the ubiquitous foxtail – and to save their owners from expensive veterinary bills.

This time of year, foxtails are all around us just waiting to dry out enough to go up a dog’s nose, in its eyes, ears, mouth or myriad other orifices on said pup. Female dogs can have foxtails climb into their vaginal area, and male dogs get them inside the prepuce (the fleshy coating over the penis).

We see them much less commonly in cats, because dogs are more likely to have their feet, faces and bodies in dry grasses. Pastured horses and other livestock who graze dried grasses can get them in their eyes and under the eyelids, as well as buried along their teeth in the gumline.

Foxtails are also known as plant awns and are basically the seed head of many different grasses one finds in dry environments like we have. Several of these “seeds” look like a fox’s tail when growing on a plant. Others grow more like a single section of that fox tail.

[broadstreet zone=”160420″]

When foxtails dry out, each individual section separates. It’s usually a single piece that enters an animal’s body. Occasionally, you get lucky and catch it before the foxtail gets in too far, but more often you don’t even realize your pet has one until they are sneezing violently, licking a foot, shaking an ear or coughing because the foxtail unluckily got inhaled into the lung. Sometimes, foxtails even make their own hole by burrowing in between the toes or in matted fur, etc.

In California, especially, foxtails can be quite a problem – causing anything from a big, uncomfortable nuisance to a deadly source of abscesses, pneumonia and other infections. Since they are shaped like an arrow with extra barbs, they can only travel one direction: deeper into the opening or burrowing through soft tissue.

Now that I have your attention, let’s look at what to do to prevent foxtails from causing these problems. Keeping dogs out of dry grassy fields with foxtails is the most logical option. If this is not possible, placing a mask over the dog’s face, such as an “Outfox” mask, is a great way to help prevent a dog from sniffing one up the nose, inhaling it through the mouth, or getting one in an ear or an eye. You will still need to check between the toes when you get home, as well as in their fur in general.

If you suspect that your pet might have a foxtail, you are likely destined for a veterinary visit. Your pet may need sedation or anesthesia so that the doctor can look for a suspected foxtail. They use simple yet specialized (and sterile) equipment to find and remove foxtails.

It is ideal to have a doctor see your pet right away to maximize the opportunity to find a foxtail in an expedient manner. If you wait, the foxtail may travel deeper. This can lead to serious damage and the need for much more specialized equipment to locate it and remove it.

Foxtails do not break down on their own. They also tend to cause growth of a specific bacteria called actinomyces. Sometimes when we’re unaware that a foxtail is traveling in the body, we find abscessed/diseased tissue. Following a culture that shows this specific bacteria, vets are clued in to keep looking for the offending foxtail. Typically, the pet will receive an appropriate antibiotic, but the foxtail will need to be located and removed for full healing.

As you can see, avoidance would be much easier than dealing with these little pesky plants, but in California, easier said than done.

Micki McCabe

drmccabevet@gmail.com

Micki McCabe, DVM, DACVIM, FAAVA, is a long-time Clayton resident. The recently retired local veterinarian has an interest in internal and integrative medicine.