is this a foxtail?

emilee · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject: is this a foxtail?

hi all,

we were at the swift run dog park in ann arbor this evening. we haven't been there in a couple of weeks, and there's a small hill in the center that looks like it hasn't been mowed in about that long. i'm no foxtail expert, so i'm writing to ask those of you who are, are these foxtails? (see below -- sorry for the poor quality, i took the photos with my camera phone. if you need a better photo let me know, i picked one and brought it home with me just in case.)

if so, i am going to have to contact someone in the parks department and let them know how dangerous they are... hopefully they'll listen to me.

thanks for your help,
-em

goodheart · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:

Yikes - I hope they take care of it quickly if it is! I've read hideous stories about foxtails. How is that park? We haven't been there yet.

Jac · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

I don't believe it is. It seems to be too thick and almost looks like wheat. A foxtail is more narrow and is pointed, like an arrow...with long extended seeds that stay in a clump but is shaped like an arrow. If you look at the Wikipedia site, you will see pictures of foxtails: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxtail_(diaspore)
But I am very glad you are checking! So glad that you are aware!
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emilee · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

ok, after doing some more looking around online (thanks for that wikipedia link, jac) it seems like the word "foxtail" is used to describe many different kinds of grasses that get those tufts at the top, but most of these are not dangerous for dogs.

the grasses in the "hordeum" genus, also called "wild barley" or "barley grass", and specifically the "Hordeum murinum" are the ones with narrow, pointy seeds that cause damage.

these links are to pages with photos:
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/photos/hordemurin01.jpg
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/foxtailbarley.html
http://www.ecclectica.ca/issues/2004/1/smith.asp

this link, from the USDA, gives a map that shows in which states "Hordeum murinum" can be found -- Michigan is NOT one of them.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HOMUL

goodheart: the park is really nice, actually. it is quite large, and even has a separate fenced-off "small dog" area. my only complaint is the lack of drinking water for the dogs, and there isn't much shade. we just remember to bring plenty of water with us, and i think we'll be going later in the evening when the day starts to cool down rather than in the afternoon.

-em

Tink · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

That's the kind we have here in Wisconsin too, and never any problem with them for the animals thank Goodness. Certainly better to ask though than wish you had after something bad happens.
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lindamarie · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject:

OH! Let us know if it is!!
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sessa35 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:22 am Post subject:

yeah, we got 'em...
called hare barley round here...
I check Mija over regularly as she gets them pretty easily,
the desert is unkind to her coat,
and believe me,
there are other worse things out there than these barley spikes,
like the cactus spike I pulled out of her foreleg last night! Shocked

but, nonetheless,
these are nasty lil' seeds too!!
Confused

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MaxandMe · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

Jac due to your horror experiences with Foxtail some good did come out of it for us: we were made MORE aware of the dangers of weeds and possible toxic plants as well
THANK YOU even though you've had a rough time to-date
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babel_rocks · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject: west coast foxtails

Those aren't the truly evil foxtails, so you can be careful but don't freak out. But of course they require vigilance.

After his walk today, I will post a picture of the really evil ones. From all reports from east coast and midwest people, these are only found in the west. They have a very sharp and tough tip that insinuates itself between the toes or in the pads. Of course, everyone knows the risk and the horror of getting one in the ear or in the nose. One way of determining if it's truly evil is to feel it. It has very tiny hooks along its sides. They grab the flesh and push themselves into the dog's body.

My dog Braly goes out in wild California parks everyday so I instituted a foot check regimen. Every day (sometimes twice a day), I give the "foot check" command. He lays down, and rolls over then I go over each foot very carefully. Yesterday I removed 9 of them from one walk.

We had a very bad experience last year right after I got him. He got a foxtail in his foot. I took him to the vet. $400 later, and a doggie with very painful feet that she'd prodded relentlessly, and a summary: "There's nothing in there. He had a foxtail hole and I irrigated it very well but there not foxtail in there." Keep in mind that this is one of the best emergency vets in San Francisco.

Well, wouldn't you know, it was Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, after being at the vet's for 8 hours on Friday night, he developed a huge (golf-ball sized) lump on his wrist. I thought maybe it was an abscess but it didn't respond to compresses.

I took him to his regular vet on Tuesday and they had to cut open the lump. They couldn't find anything but they thought maybe the swelling would go down. It didn't.

And long story longer, he had to go back to the vet three more times for the same procedure until they found a small foxtail. He's got a huge scar on his wrist but is otherwise fine. He doesn't even mind going to that vet. But all in all, the entire rigamarole ended up costing me about $1800 and my vet gave me a break o the price because he couldn't find it on a couple of occasions.

It didn't turn out to be an abscess. There was some pus but it was mostly serum. He had an allergic reaction to it (and to whatever that first vet "irrigated: his foot with). I'm never going back to that place. My theory is that she pushed the foxtail up his leg. Thanks lady.
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Jac · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:18 am Post subject:

Oooh, what a horror story!
I join you in your anger towards the treatment! I have spent, literally, thousands of dollars on foxtail removal. (10 adult dogs, plus puppies)
I am sorry for your dogs horrible discomfort.
California is a beautiful state and I wouldn't move...but boy, those foxtails are a curse!
Welsome to the forum...thanks for posting!
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