Tulip is a beautiful pup with a shiny black coat and an adorable underbite. She was a rescued from a California shelter but almost didn’t make it. Tulip had a large, tumor-like wound that just wouldn’t heal. Thank goodness Catherine Godlewski took a chance on this sweet girl.
“We fostered Tulip for a week, until her long-term foster placement was ready,” Godlewski remembered. “But after that one week, we knew we wanted her to be a permanent member of our family. She needed to get out of the shelter quickly because she had an unusual wound that wouldn’t heal and needed some diagnostic work to discover the cause of it. Three surgeries later a grass seed head was discovered and removed. We still are flummoxed on how it found its way into her.”
You read that correctly: a tiny foxtail seed was the cause of all that pain and trauma. A foxtail is a very common type of grass in Southern California, topped with a slender, spiky bristle. When foxtail bristles get caught in a dog’s coat, the barbed ends can pierce the skin and work their way in as the dog moves. These structures have sharp points at one end and microscopic barbs, so that they easily move in the direction of the point, but not the other way. They can become imbedded, especially in the paws, ears, nostrils and even eyes. As they work their way in a dog’s body, they cause infection and if not treated, can sometimes be fatal. Of course, embedded foxtails in dogs hurt the animal, but of greater concern are the bacteria that are often carried into the wound with the spike. The resulting infections can be very serious, particularly those that occur in the chest, like Tulip’s did.
According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), “The best strategy for foxtails is to avoid them completely. If you can’t avoid them, be sure to check your dog thoroughly and keep the fur short during foxtail season. After outdoor adventures, carefully inspect your dog’s entire coat, including between the toes. If you find even the smallest sliver, remove it as soon as possible to prevent it from moving deeper into your dog’s body.”
If a pup starts sneezing or pawing at its nose, check for foxtails. Sometimes, a dog will bleed from the nostrils. The symptoms may disappear after a few hours, only to return and affect the dog intermittently.
Foxtails can work their way into a dog’s ears, too. Look for a tilting or shaking head, and check the ears immediately. If the dog continues to paw at its ear, moves stiffly or cries with pain, it may mean a trip to the veterinarian is needed.
These pesky seeds can embed themselves in a dog’s throat and will cause gagging and compulsive grass eating. If the dog stretches its neck to swallow, get immediate medical advice.
Tears and mucus discharge mean eye irritation. Check the dog’s eyes for any signs of the cause. Foxtails can also cause squinting and swelling of the eyes. And if that happens, go to the veterinarian.
Don’t count on foxtails to come out on their own. The longer one waits, the deeper the stubborn barbs can go. The foxtail may have to be removed surgically, and the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics to curb any infection. It is amazing that such a seemingly trivial thing can cause such havoc. The bottom line is that if one suspects a pup has come in contact with foxtails, a trip to the veterinarian will probably be money well spent. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Lori Fusaro has been voted the best portrait photographer by FoxTV three years in a row. She lives in Culver City with her husband, four cats and dog. Contact: Lori@FusaroPhotography.com, FusaroPhotography.com.