Foxtails!!

Its that time of year again everyone......foxtail season!!  At Cordova Veterinary Hospital we have seen our fair share already of foxtails in the eyes and ears of both cats and dogs. 
I'm sure you have seen those fan tail weeds that grow during the spring and turn yellow towards the start of summer.  The annoying weeds that get stuck in your shoes and socks when your out walking?  Or perhaps you have a few of them growing in your back yard? 

Since I'm an indoor only cat and refuse to get my paws dirty, I have decided to send out two of my field reporters for this story.  Dookie, a 2 year old American Bulldog and Dustmop (what an ugly dog) who is a 1 year old Poodle mix to scout out the foxtails.  As the pictures show, you can see that longer haired dogs like Dustmop are a magnet for weeds, such as foxtails, and smoother coated dogs not as much.  However, don't let that fool you!  Foxtails can also become lodged between the toes especially in dogs like Dustmop with furry feet. 

Foxtails are very adept at making their way in small crevices like ears, eyes and the nose of either dogs or cats.  This can cause great injury if left untreated.  Warning signs to look for if you suspect your pet has a foxtail:

• shaking of the head nonstop
• sneezing uncontrollably (if in the nose)
• discharge from the nose such as blood
• pawing at the face/eyes
• discharge/weeping/squinting of the eyes
• ears can be painful when touched
• paws can become swollen as well as have small wounds in between the toes

So to summarize, foxtails are a bad deal and need to be addressed immediately!  Check your pets feet, furry or not, for foxtails after your walks, and try to steer clear of tall weeds.  Keep your yards free of these nasty weeds and dispose of the foxtails in your green waste to avoid any problems.  And be sure to contact us, Cordova Veterinary Hospital if you have any questions or fear your special pet has a foxtail. 
Thanks to Dookie and Dustmop for their great reporting skills.  I guess Dustmop isn't so ugly after all!

~Betty Crocker