Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger!

Jac · 05-11-2009, 07:48 PM

At this time of year it is so important to remind you that foxtails are seeding, drying and WILL become health issues for dogs.
If you live in an area where foxtails exist (most everywhere) please read this article!
I have, literally, spent thousands of dollars on foxtail removal and the pain that these dogs have from foxtails is the most awful thing for them...this article is very enlightening. I learned why foxtails are such a serious threat to dogs, and I learned how to ease the pain until you are able to get to a vet...
http://www.vizsladogs.com/CLUBS/nva/nva6.htm

Here is another good source of info: http://www.vizsladogs.com/CLUBS/nva/nva6.htm

But I wan to be very clear...as this article says, if you don't know, ASSUME IT IS A FOXTAIL AND GO TO THE VET! Last year, alone, I had one dog get a foxtail in her groin, it traveled about 3 inches until I noticed it...she had to have surgery to remove it. One puppy got a foxtail in his eye...thank goodness it did not penetrate the tissue, but stayed in the lining and was able to be removed. Three other dogs had to be operated on to remove foxtails from their ears. About 5 of my dogs, maybe more, had foxtails enter on top or bottom of their toes and MIGRATE TO THE OTHER SIDE! I clipped my dog's coats and found foxtails in two dogs, under their armpits, just below the surface of the skin. These babies had the foxtails in for months! And all of this EVEN THOUGH we constantly check for foxtails..every day and every night.

Foxtails are horrible things...they are everywhere...and they can be deadly. A woman I know had a dog die from a foxtail that entered through the dog's eye, migrated to his brain. I have been told by my vet that once a foxtail gets into their system, it will migrate until it hits bone. They go through hearts, lungs, and all internal organs...they get into brains...please, please, be watchful.

For those who don't know what foxtails look like, check this link: http://loveyourdog.com/foxtails.html

Contact your extension service to see if you have foxtails in your area.

tuffystar · 05-11-2009, 08:36 PM

Thanks for the information! Fox tails have been a problem to our dogs since I can remember. My mom spent lots of money getting them out of our dogs ears. I remember having to pull them out of our dogs feet and legs! They are wicked and cause much pain and cost dog owners a fortune!!!

MaxandMe · 05-11-2009, 09:55 PM

JAC i still remember how much anguish YOu and your dogs had last year with foxtails

I sure hope this year is better and hopefully with your new tractor you can mow some of them down?

**lindamarie** · 05-11-2009, 10:14 PM

I remember this from last year. I don't know if we have them or not!
I'm going to check out Michigan somehow and see.
FRIGHTENING!

Thanks, Jac!

Raleighsmom · 05-12-2009, 06:24 PM

Thanks for posting this Jac! I've been looking all over the state of Ct, and can't find anything that looksl like that!!! Thank heavens...think I'll check with the extension service....you never can be too careful!

**lindamarie** · 05-12-2009, 10:22 PM

I was out again today and looking all around. I just KNOW I've seen these things somewhere. I have to be careful!

Jac · 05-12-2009, 10:53 PM

Well,they start out looking like grass...then they get the seed heads that resemble wheat. When those seeds dry they come off in little fish-hook barbs and, like an arrow, point toward their target and, using the barbs, they work their way inward...so hard to pull out too. (At least hard to get them all the way out...)

seazr · 05-14-2009, 12:22 AM

Thanks Jac--it is that time of year again!! Foxtails and tumbleweeds . . .

CharlieBear's Mom · 05-15-2009, 06:03 PM

Thanks for the info on this -- I have seen those things all over (not in my yard thankfully) but I never knew what they were. I will be sure to keep an extra close eye out when we leave the yard.

PowerNubby · 08-06-2010, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raleighsmom

Thanks for posting this Jac! I've been looking all over the state of Ct, and can't find anything that looksl like that!!! Thank heavens...think I'll check with the extension service....you never can be too careful!

I joined this forum JUST TO RESPOND to you.. I have a beagle and a chihuahua.. WE DEFINITELY HAVE FOX TAILS IN CONNECTICUT!!!

I live near the shore and have seen them ever since I was a kid.. when I was young we used to pick them and play with them. They are very soft if you run your hand WITH the grain.. Going against the grain hurts like heck..

My Beagle did have some seeds in the forearm area of his front leg a few years back.. it wasn't anything horrible and it has been confirmed as a MYTH that they can actually travel through flesh.. its more often that they end up on the inside of their bodies because they eat grass and swallow them or they inhale them while sniffing..

They can rarely end up in the heart if swallowed and poke through near the heart..

Make no mistake, they definitely are a pain in the butt and can cost a lot of money to have removed.. Cappy had 10 of them removed from his leg and it wasn't cheap..

We (here in COnnecticut) also have CheatGrass
cheatgrass: Bromus tectorum (Cyperales: Poaceae)

**lindamarie** · 08-10-2010, 12:31 PM

How nice of you to join just to help and give your advice!

05-11-2009, 07:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! At this time of year it is so important to remind you that foxtails are seeding, drying and WILL become health issues for dogs. If you live in an area where foxtails exist (most everywhere) please read this article! I have, literally, spent thousands of dollars on foxtail removal and the pain that these dogs have from foxtails is the most awful thing for them...this article is very enlightening. I learned why foxtails are such a serious threat to dogs, and I learned how to ease the pain until you are able to get to a vet... http://www.vizsladogs.com/CLUBS/nva/nva6.htm Here is another good source of info: http://www.vizsladogs.com/CLUBS/nva/nva6.htm But I wan to be very clear...as this article says, if you don't know, ASSUME IT IS A FOXTAIL AND GO TO THE VET! Last year, alone, I had one dog get a foxtail in her groin, it traveled about 3 inches until I noticed it...she had to have surgery to remove it. One puppy got a foxtail in his eye...thank goodness it did not penetrate the tissue, but stayed in the lining and was able to be removed. Three other dogs had to be operated on to remove foxtails from their ears. About 5 of my dogs, maybe more, had foxtails enter on top or bottom of their toes and MIGRATE TO THE OTHER SIDE! I clipped my dog's coats and found foxtails in two dogs, under their armpits, just below the surface of the skin. These babies had the foxtails in for months! And all of this EVEN THOUGH we constantly check for foxtails..every day and every night. Foxtails are horrible things...they are everywhere...and they can be deadly. A woman I know had a dog die from a foxtail that entered through the dog's eye, migrated to his brain. I have been told by my vet that once a foxtail gets into their system, it will migrate until it hits bone. They go through hearts, lungs, and all internal organs...they get into brains...please, please, be watchful. For those who don't know what foxtails look like, check this link: http://loveyourdog.com/foxtails.html Contact your extension service to see if you have foxtails in your area.

05-11-2009, 08:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
tuffystar Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 2,292	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! Thanks for the information! Fox tails have been a problem to our dogs since I can remember. My mom spent lots of money getting them out of our dogs ears. I remember having to pull them out of our dogs feet and legs! They are wicked and cause much pain and cost dog owners a fortune!!!

05-11-2009, 09:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
MaxandMe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 15,092	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! JAC i still remember how much anguish YOu and your dogs had last year with foxtails I sure hope this year is better and hopefully with your new tractor you can mow some of them down? __________________ *Annmarie, Max,& Peanut* "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France uncondtional love: what a dog always does for us and humans strive to do but can we?

05-11-2009, 10:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
lindamarie Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Birmingham, Michigan Posts: 6,100	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! I remember this from last year. I don't know if we have them or not! I'm going to check out Michigan somehow and see. FRIGHTENING! Thanks, Jac! __________________ Linda & Bogart Dogs=Unconditional love "We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

05-12-2009, 06:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Raleighsmom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Windsor,Ct Posts: 4,617	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! Thanks for posting this Jac! I've been looking all over the state of Ct, and can't find anything that looksl like that!!! Thank heavens...think I'll check with the extension service....you never can be too careful! __________________ Kathie,Raleigh & Molly! "Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!" ~ Theophile Gautier

05-12-2009, 10:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
lindamarie Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Birmingham, Michigan Posts: 6,100	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! I was out again today and looking all around. I just KNOW I've seen these things somewhere. I have to be careful! __________________ Linda & Bogart Dogs=Unconditional love "We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

05-12-2009, 10:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! Well,they start out looking like grass...then they get the seed heads that resemble wheat. When those seeds dry they come off in little fish-hook barbs and, like an arrow, point toward their target and, using the barbs, they work their way inward...so hard to pull out too. (At least hard to get them all the way out...)

05-14-2009, 12:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
seazr Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento Posts: 2,971	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! Thanks Jac--it is that time of year again!! Foxtails and tumbleweeds . . . __________________ Diane (and Dakota) http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/seazr/

05-15-2009, 06:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
CharlieBear's Mom Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 147	Re: Foxtails...it's that time of year! Danger! Thanks for the info on this -- I have seen those things all over (not in my yard thankfully) but I never knew what they were. I will be sure to keep an extra close eye out when we leave the yard. __________________ Karen and Charliebear

08-10-2010, 12:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
lindamarie Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Birmingham, Michigan Posts: 6,100	How nice of you to join just to help and give your advice! __________________ Linda & Bogart Dogs=Unconditional love "We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

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