Solano and Yolo counties are full of dry grass and field edges. Foxtail season runs from spring into fall, and every dog that walks through a field is exposed.
What foxtails are
UC Davis's School of Veterinary Medicine describes foxtails as spiked seed clusters on certain weeds and wild grasses, including foxtail grass, barley and millets in Northern California. The seeds have one-way barbs, so they work forward into skin, ears and noses and rarely work back out on their own.
Where they lodge and what you will see
UC Davis notes these signs overlap with other conditions, so the history of a recent walk in dry grass is useful when you call the clinic.
- Nose: sudden violent sneezing, pawing at the face, nasal discharge
- Ear: head shaking, tilting, scratching at one ear
- Paw: limping, licking between the toes, a swelling or draining lump
- Eye: squinting, uncontrolled blinking, swelling or discharge
What a vet does
UC Davis says the only treatment for a foxtail foreign body is removal. A seed that is not found can migrate into deeper tissue; the school reports cases starting around April, tapering by fall, and in severe cases reaching the chest. Do not poke into the ear or nose with tweezers at home, because you can push the seed deeper.
How to prevent them
- Keep dogs away from areas where foxtails grow, and stay on mowed paths.
- After a walk, comb and look between the toes, in the ears, under the collar and in the armpits.
- Keep the hair between the toes, ears and belly trimmed on long-haired dogs, as UC Davis recommends.
- Pull foxtails out of your yard before the seed heads dry.
Before and after a stay
Tell staff at drop-off if your dog has been in fields recently and has any sign of a seed. When you collect your dog after a stay in a country setting with a grass field, a quick check between the toes and in the ears is worth the minute it takes. A bath after a country stay is common; ask about it on the boarder baths page. The kennel's play areas and grass field are on about 10 acres, so this is the same advice we would give for any trail.