is there a way to prevent foxtails from bugging dogs?

Question

Just adopted a lab girl and her FM told me that she gets foxtail infections often. What to do?

Answer 1

Foxtails can go anywhere including up the nose and into the pads of the feet between the toes. Since they are shaped like an arrow, they go in and can continue to work their way into the flesh.

It is best to avoid dry, grassy areas completely. You should also check your dog from head to toe should she get into one. You actually need to give her a brush and check her ears and way up between her toes. They can be sneaky little things and very hard to find without some persistence.

http://www.metpet.com/Reference/Dogs/Grooming/foxtails.htm

Answer 2

After she's been out in tall grass (that's where she'll get foxtails) check her ears and under her tail for foxtail seeds, and remove them before they cause trouble.
The usual problem is that a foxtail seed will stick to the ear, on the inside, and gradually work its way down the ear canal and cause an infection. If you check her ears daily, they won't have a chance.
If she doesn't go out into tall grass, she won't get foxtails anyway. Although foxtail grass grows in the yard too, it's usually too short to be a problem to dogs, in my experience.

Answer 3

Just be wary during fox tail season when the burs get dry and can embed into dog's fur and skin. Especially near water such as rivers. My dog has had 3 fox tails incidents and I just make sure to thoroughly inspect Him each time he has gone out in the brush, and have caught all of them early when they are only small punctures wounds, except one time when it traveled down his Ear ! All required ER vet visits and antibiotics. fox tails can embed in the skin, then twist and find its way even deeper in the skin, sometimes even fatally if it gets into the blood stream or gets infected. You can also buy protective booties for your dog to wear to protect his sensitive pads. Basically, if your dog walks where ANY fox tails are, you need to be careful and pay attention to any signs, even if an area just looks like a small bump, it could be a fox tail that has embedded.

Answer 4

Don't allow her to frequent areas that contain foxtails.