Are Foxtails Dangerous for Dogs?

In brief: yes, foxtails are dangerous for dogs. 

But first  — what are foxtails? 

Sometimes known as “cheatgrass,” foxtails are grass-like weeds that grow wild and can be potentially very harmful to your pup’s health. 

Foxtails are named for the fuzzy end of a weed that resembles a fox’s tail. These spindly clusters disperse seeds everywhere, much like a dandelion blowing in the wind. But unlike dandelions, foxtail seeds are barbed and can easily stick on your pet (or you). Once they’re attached to something — whether it’s clothes, skin, or your pet — they can be difficult or painful to remove. 

They can manage to get into all sorts of places on your dog, from their face, to their genitals, to the cracks in between their toes.

But the discomfort doesn’t end there. Foxtails can actually burrow into your dog’s skin and become a painful splinter and even cause an infection. Once burrowed, they’re difficult to remove and can migrate deeply into your dog’s tissues, which means they’ll require veterinary care to remove. 

Embedded foxtails can cause swelling, pain or even death in rare circumstances. 

How to prevent foxtails

Once your dog has wandered into foxtail grass, it’s unlikely they’ll come out spotless. If you’re lucky, you’ll only have a few to carefully brush off their fur. The trouble starts when the foxtails find their way into nostrils, eyelids, paws and other sensitive parts of the body that may require veterinary attention for removal.

For starters, know where you’re walking. Most of us have familiar walks, hikes and pathways we visit time and time again with our dogs. Keep a sharp eye for foxtail patches along the way, tighten up your leash as you approach them and lead your dog another direction.

You’ll also want to weed and maintain your own yard. Spring and summer are foxtail season. So take a sweep around your property to see what’s growing. If you notice any foxtail plants, try your best to remove them from the root to prevent any further spreading.

What should you do if your dog gets into foxtail grass? 

When taking your dog for a walk, especially in parts of the country where foxtail plants are prevalent, be careful to avoid walking through tall grasses where your dog could get barbed by spindly grasses.

If your dog does manage to make his way through a field of tall grasses where foxtails are prevalent, you’ll want to check him thoroughly after to see if you spy any of the barbs on his skins. If so, you should bring your dog to a veterinarian so they can remove it before it causes infection or burrows more deeply into your dog’s skin. If caught early, foxtails are easier and less painful to remove.