Foxtail grass isn’t present only in California, but the state is definitely ground zero for this injurious plant. Its seeds can penetrate dogs anywhere on their bodies.
The seeds are very hard and tipped with a sharp point that is capable of puncturing a dog’s skin and entering his body. Attached to the seed are long, fibrous awns, which are covered with microscopic bristles that are arranged in a single direction, like the teeth on a rasp or nail file. Any contact with these tiny bristles literally pushes the seed forward, trailing its awn behind it.
Source: Whole Dog Journal, July 2019. Link. The three most common hazards and place of entry for foxtail seeds and awns are these:
- Awns get sniffed into dog noses
- Awns work their way into dog ears
- Seeds stick between dog toes.
Each of these sites is a mere port of entry for these sturdy seeds; once inside, they start a relentless crawl forward, traveling deeper into a dog’s tissue with every passing hour. They are sometimes found in exploratory surgeries years afterward; the durable seed and awn fibers resist breaking down in the body as if they were made of plastic.
INSIGHTS: This is important information to share on social media and in newsletters in areas where foxtail exists. It is not just a hunting dog issue.