Foxtail Injuries in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, & Prevention
Foxtails can become embedded in your dog's skin during certain times of the year. Over time, they gradually advance through tissues and can reach other parts of the body cavities. They are often inhaled, stepped on, or ingested and enter through limbs, thorax, and oral cavities.
Foxtails cause dogs to experience pain, discharge, infections, and even death in extreme cases.
This guide explores the dangers of foxtails, how they affect dogs, and what you can do to protect your pet. From recognizing the symptoms of foxtail injuries to understanding the necessary treatments, this resource will help you keep your dog safe and healthy.
Key Takeaways
- Foxtails can embed in a dog’s skin, nose, paws, or mouth, leading to pain, infections, and severe complications.
- Symptoms vary based on location but often include swelling, limping, excessive licking, or respiratory distress.
- Prompt veterinary care is crucial—deeply embedded foxtails may require sedation, imaging, or even surgery.
- Treatment costs can be high, but pet insurance can help cover expenses—use Pawlicy Advisor to find a plan that fits your needs.
Looking to save on vet bills? See if pet insurance is right for you.
Instant results. No spam. 1M+ pet parents served.
This guide explores the dangers of foxtails, how they affect dogs, and what you can do to protect your pet. From recognizing the symptoms of foxtail injuries to understanding the necessary treatments, this resource will help you keep your dog safe and healthy.
✔️ Reviewed by multiple licensed veterinarians
✔️ Updated with the latest medical data
✔️ Compiled from veterinary research
What are Foxtails?
A foxtail foreign body is a sharp, spiked seed head from a plant. It becomes embedded on your pet's body most often through the ears, mouth, or skin. Foxtails can migrate further into the tissues and cause serious health problems.
Since a foxtail is a foreign object, it triggers an immune response from pets. This results in inflammation and abscesses as the barb goes deeper under the skin.
Spiked seed heads are more dangerous during the summer months when they harden.
What Causes Foxtail Exposure in Dogs?
Foxtails and dogs come into contact in many ways. Common scenarios include:
- Your dog may pick up the seed heads while running through a grassy area.
- Dogs often explore and sniff around bushes and can brush against foxtail plants.
- Scratching or digging in areas in tall grasses can get foxtails lodged in their ears.
- Dogs that roll around in grass can have foxtails attached to their fur.
- They may also accidentally ingest foxtail seeds while eating grass or grooming themselves.
What are the Signs of Foxtails in Dogs?
The signs of a foxtail presence vary depending on where they've entered.
Ingested or inhaled foxtails get stuck in the mouth or throat. Foxtail inhalation results in coughing, oral swelling, gaggling, and lumps in the neck. It causes severe respiratory reactions, including pneumothorax, pyothorax, and pneumonia, which are indicated by coughing and respiratory distress.
A foxtail lodged in your dog's paw causes discomfort and makes the paw appear red and swollen after a short while.
The dog may start limping to avoid putting weight on the affected paw. It may also begin licking the area that's experiencing irritation. Consistent chewing may help the dog relieve the discomfort caused by the foxtail and can be a sign that there is foreign material present.
Looking closely, you may notice the foxtail seed or swollen bump on the paw. If the punctured area gets infected by bacteria, it starts producing pus and can even abscess.
How to Treat Foxtails in Dogs
Foxtail plant dogs can be treated by removing the foxtails. Early removal prevents the foxtail from penetrating deeper and causing infection.
Visit a veterinarian with your dog once you notice foxtail symptoms. Veterinarians perform a comprehensive examination to locate the foxtail. They use forceps to extract visible foxtails. If the foxtail migrates deep into the body, doctors perform X-rays or CT scans.
Depending on the foxtail's location, doctors may sedate your dog for safe removal. For foxtails within the ears and eyes, moderate sedation is often sufficient. Deeper extractions within the nose and paws can sometimes need full anesthesia.
Your veterinary doctor may perform surgery to ensure the effective removal of the foxtail. After the foxtail extraction, veterinarians prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection and pain relief medications.
Follow-up visits with the doctor help monitor healing and address complications.
How Much Does It Cost to Treat Foxtails in Dogs?
Foxtail treatment costs range from $75 to over $5,000, depending on the severity of the infection. These costs involve diagnosis, treatment, and surgery.
If you live in an area with foxtails, know that the right pet health insurance can cover the treatment costs.
Recommended Reading: Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
How To Prevent Foxtail in Dogs
You can employ different strategies to prevent foxtail injuries in dogs. These include avoiding foxtail areas, leash control, grooming, daily inspections, and behavior monitoring.
- Avoid foxtail areas by staying clear of grassy fields during hikes or walks. If foxtails grow in your yard, remove them.
- Use a short leash when walking dogs in areas where foxtail might be present. This allows for better control to prevent them from wandering off.
- Trim your dog's fur regularly to minimize areas where foxtail can cling.
- Check your dog daily for foxtail signs after outdoor play. Pay attention to the paws, ears, and mouth.
- Check for unusual behaviors in your dog's post-exposure to grass areas.
Get expert guidance to find the best pet insurance for your best friend.
Do you want to find the best pet insurance?
Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Ready?
Analyze My PetAbout Pawlicy Advisor
The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. By comparing personalized coverage and pricing differences we can save you a ton of money, up to 83% in some instances!
Instantly Compare Pet Insurance Plans
Guides
Determine If Pet Insurance Is Worth It
Comparison Charts
Find Your State
Dog Insurance
DVM
Ricky Walther, DVM, is a small animal general practitioner in the greater Sacramento, California area. Realizing the positive financial and medical impact that pet insurance can provide for pet parents and the profession, he lends support and advice to companies like Pawlicy Advisor "The Pet Insurance Marketplace") that simplify the process of connecting with veterinary financing resources.
