16/06/2023
๐ฆ It's Fox Tail Season๐ฆ
If a foxtail is suspected, see your vet immediately.
It's that season once again when pet owners need to stay diligent about foxtails. From late spring during the month of May and the early parts of summer are the prime times for these annual grasses to appear.
๐ฆThe most dangerous time to encounter foxtails are when the plant becomes dry and brittle and the grass heads begin to separate.
๐ฆIf a foxtail does end up getting into your dog's paw, the flexing motion from walking will push it into his pad or will pierce the skin in between his toes.
๐ฆThe foxtail seeds, which carries bacteria, may then keep tunneling into tissue, carving the dangerous path of infection that marks grass awn disease, fox tails continue to travel into whatever body parts they have entered, they continue to grow and travel brow bigger and bigger.
๐ฆBecause these tough seeds don't break down inside the body, an embedded foxtail can lead to serious infection for your dog.
๐ฆFoxtail Prevention
Prevent exposure and avoid foxtail plant-infested areas.
If you must walk in areas where there are foxtails, keep your dog on-leash.
If you have a long-haired dog, trim its hair between the toes, ears, and belly.
Check your dog's coat after every walk for foxtails.
๐ฆCheck for foxtails if you notice swelling or limping or if your dog is constantly licking the area. Ears. If your pooch is shaking their head, tilting it to the side, or scratching incessantly at an ear, this could be the sign of a foxtail -- one that may be so deep inside the ear canal you can't see it.
๐ฆIf you catch foxtails quickly, you can often get them out of your dog using tweezers. But foxtails can pe*****te fast, and then become deeply embedded. When this happens, conventional veterinarians will remove foxtails surgically โฆ usually under local anesthesia.