Outfoxing Foxtails
Those nasty foxtails! What’s the most foolproof way to prevent them from harming your dog? Stay 100% away from them. But, just how easy is it to restrict your dog’s walks to pristine sidewalks in pristine neighborhoods from May until October? Impossible for this author.
Here are some other foxtail prevention options:
Purchase a netted mask that fits over your dog’s head and prevents foxtails from gaining access to ears, eyes, and nostrils. They’re made of a lightweight screen material that doesn’t impair vision. Most dogs are surprisingly comfortable wearing them. The brand I’m familiar with and use is OutFox Field Guard (see photo below).
Following an outing, inspect your dog’s hair coat with a fine-tooth comb (pun intended). Check extra carefully between the toes — foxtails are oh so good at hiding there.
Shave your long-haired dog, including between their toes. Just as with ticks, this won’t prevent foxtails from clinging to your dog’s hair and skin, but it will certainly make them easier to find.
Use a leash and remain hyperattentive so you can steer your pup clear of any foxtails.
If your dog experiences a sudden onset of sneezing or head shaking, and has had foxtail exposure, contact your veterinarian right away. Same for a draining tract in the skin or between the toes. The sooner foxtails are removed, the less likely they will cause significant harm.
Have you and your dog had any foxtail debacles?
YES! My bloodhound A.J. once inhaled a foxtail while we were in the middle of tracking a missing woman! He sneezed repeatedly several times, but wanted to continue working the scent trail! We kept tracking along and the woman, thankfully, was found just ahead of us (and was OK). Once finished with the case, I loaded A.J. in my truck and drove straight to the vet! He had to have surgery but was OK afterward. WHAT A TROOPER he was to want to keep working rather than taking a "sick day" like I would have done!