Foxtails are small spikes of wild grasses that, once dry, stick to the fur of dogs and cats and can penetrate the skin or orifices such as nose, ears and eyesIf you live or travel in Italy with your pet, it's essential to know them to avoid injuries and complications during walks and vacations.
What are foxtails?
Also called "spikelets" or foxtails, they are the awns of some herbs (for example hordeum murinum). Their arrow-shaped shape and backward-facing bristles push them deep into tissues with a unidirectional movement, making home extraction difficult and promoting infections.
Where and when they are found
In Italy, they are common from late spring to early fall, peaking in summer. You'll find them on roadsides, unkempt flowerbeds, overgrown fields, paths, poorly maintained dog parks, and even in backyards. After mowing, the stalks remain dangerous on the ground.
Symptoms Not to Ignore
- Nose: violent and repeated sneezing, rubbing of the face, loss of blood or mucus.
- Ears: head shaking, head tilt, pain to touch, possible otitis or perforation of the eardrum.
- Eyes: tearing, squinting, redness, corneal ulcers, and pain.
- Paws and nails: persistent licking, swelling between the fingertips, fistulas with pus.
- Cute: lumps, redness, foul-smelling discharge.
- Other locations (rare but possible): respiratory tract (cough, difficulty breathing), genitals (licking, pain), anal canal.
What to do immediately
- Keep calm and prevent the animal from scratching or rubbing itself, to prevent the ear from penetrating further.
- Do not insert tweezers in your nose, ears or eyes and do not irrigate the ear: you risk pushing the grass awn further.
- If the grass awn is only on the hair or superficial on the skin, you can gently remove it with tweezers and disinfect.
- For symptoms in the nose, ears, eyes or swollen paw with fistula, contact your vet immediately: local anesthesia, specific instruments or endoscopy are often required.
Daily prevention
- Choice of routes: Choose clean trails, parks with cut grass, and well-maintained dog-friendly beaches. Avoid tall grass and overgrown fields.
- After each exit: brush against the grain, check carefully interdigital spaces, armpits, ears, nostrils, eyes, groin and tail.
- Targeted grooming: shortens the hair between the pads and behind the ears in long-haired dogs.
- Useful devices: in currency risk areas shoes protective, snood/bands for long ears, protective glasses for curious dogs in the bush.
- Leash and management: Use a short leash near embankments or dry flowerbeds; avoid rolling the animal in mature grass.
- Home and Garden: Mow regularly, remove dry stalks, and dispose of them; be careful with doormats.
- Products: There are no specific repellents that are truly effective against foxtails; prevention is mechanical and behavioral.
Tips for those traveling with dogs or cats
- Plan the stages in well-kept green areas and pet-friendly facilities with maintained gardens.
- In the breaks On the highway or at service stations, choose areas with short, clean grass; avoid embankments with dry grass.
- Travel Kit: fine-toothed comb, wipes, single-dose eye solution, tweezers, soft muzzle (for safe maneuvers), number of the veterinarian and a 24-hour clinic along the route.
- After the beach or trekking: Rinse and check the coat; sand and salt water make it easier for the spikelets to stick together.
- Insurance and cost prevention: A veterinary insurance policy may cover endoscopies or emergency surgeries.
FAQ
Are cats at risk?
Yes, especially cats that go outdoors. The most common signs are sudden sneezing, blepharospasm, and paw licking.
How do I recognize a foxtail in my paw?
Swelling between the pads, constant licking, pain on palpation and sometimes a small fistula with discharge.
Can it be prevented entirely?
Eliminating the risk is difficult, but with safe routes, post-walk checks and targeted grooming you reduce it significantly.
With a little constant attention you can enjoy the summer and travel with your pet safely, preventing a simple walk from turning into a grass awn emergency.
