SHERRY DAVIS: Protect your dog from these little monsters
| Sunday, May 01 2011 12:00 PM
Last Updated Sunday, May 01 2011 12:00 PM
They're out there.
They're out there everywhere and they're waiting for your dogs.
They've got time.
Time to wait patiently for your dogs to walk or run by them, eliminate on them or better yet, stop and sniff them.
Oh, they look innocent enough, especially the youngsters.
But don't be lulled by their bright hue after such a long, dull winter.
That will change.
As the weather gets warmer and their numbers increase, you will see them for the insidious little monsters that they are, with the ability to cause your dog pain and suffering, and in severe cases, death.
They're foxtails, which have been called the "vegetative scourge of the canine world."
Thought to have migrated here in the bellies of Spanish cattle making passage to the New World, foxtails are the seeds or awns of a variety of wild barley grass and a common sight in California fields, hillsides, vacant lots and many backyards.
Soft and green from January through March or April, foxtails become most deadly as they dry out and form seeds from May to August.
A foxtail can range from a quarter inch to 3 inches long. It is pointed at one end and branches into two or more tails. As it dries out it's more easily dislodged from the stalk. The tail ends have tiny barbs along the edges that catch the hair (even short coats) of a passing dog and allow movement in one direction only.
If the pointed head sticks into something solid, like the dog's skin, it is sharp enough to begin penetration with the little barbs pulling the foxtail forward.
The outsides of the seedlings contain a bacterium with enzymes used to break down vegetation. This bacterium also allows the seedling to burrow into a dog along the tunnels of pus created by the enzyme, with a foxtail able to burrow through a dog's skin and cause infection and irritation in any area of the body.
Because their shape promotes deep penetration and forward movement, they can migrate and cause irritation and infection in the lungs, heart and other organs, causing severe lethargy, lack of appetite, weight loss, coughing or difficulty breathing.
A foxtail can cause these symptoms:
Nose: Sudden severe sneezing, pawing at nose or bleeding from nostrils
Ears: Tilting and head shaking, pawing at ear, crying
Eyes: Squinting, swelling accompanied by tears and mucous discharge
Throat: Gagging, retching cough, compulsive grass eating, stretching of neck and swallowing
Between the toes: Repeated licking of the foot, a bubble-like, pus-filled swelling often with a hole in the center, limping
Foxtails can collect in the anal area, around the female's vulva and in male dogs travel the length of the penis and into the prostate. A heavily coated dog can pick them up in the chest area, where they can lodge in the armpits, pierce the skin and penetrate the chest wall and chest cavity.
Any unusual soft swelling or any draining wound could mean foxtail penetration, particularly during the spring and summer.
Treatment consists of removal, which could require sedation or anesthesia.
Antibiotics are used to treat infections, with affected areas requiring cleaning and flushing with antiseptic solutions. Infections may require insertion of a drain for removal of the pus-filled fluid.
To prevent foxtail problems:
* Watch for them where you walk or let your dog run. They grow in grassy areas.
* Remove them from your yard at first appearance, when they're green and easy to pull out.
* Check your dog thoroughly after each outing: Between the toes, on the bottoms of each foot and in the armpits, anal and genital areas.
* Keep your dog brushed out. Foxtails will stick to mats and travel down them into the skin. Keep the hair on your dog's feet, ears, and genitals trimmed.
* With a hair dryer that blows cool air or a vacuum you can reverse the airflow on, blow the coat of long-haired dogs apart to see foxtails.
* Regularly check for swelling or drainage, and be alert to any limping or other unusual behavior.
One cannot live in California without encountering foxtails, and eradicating them completely is almost impossible.
If your dog has been exposed to foxtails and presents any of the symptoms, assume it is a foxtail and get your dog to the vet.
Upcoming events:
H.A.L.T. Rescue's 2nd Annual 5K Fun Run/Walk, Yokuts Park, June 4. Pre-register at Runnersworld.com. $20; day of race, $25.
Therapy Dogs International certification test, June 18, Greenacres Park. Limited entry; pre-registration required. Details: write to Davis at csi4k9s@yahoo.
-- Sherry Davis is a dog trainer/owner of CSI 4 K9s. Email her at doglady@bakersfield.com or follow her on Twitter @csi4k9s. These are her opinions, not necessarily The Californian's.
