What a Foxtail Really Is

A foxtail is a small, dry part of the inflorescence of certain grasses.

When mature, it easily detaches and can be found in tall grass, dry paths, vacant lots, roadsides, or walking areas.

Its danger doesn't just come from its sharp point.

It mainly comes from its tapered, hard shape, oriented in one direction, with small barbs that act like hooks.

Once it gets caught in hair, a skin fold, an ear, a nostril, or between the toes, it moves much more easily forward than backward.

This mechanism explains why foxtails are so feared in veterinary medicine.

They are not just "stuck blades of grass."

They are foreign plant bodies capable of penetrating, embedding, causing inflammation, infection, an abscess, and sometimes migrating deep into tissues.

Graphic representation of a grass spikelet containing foxtails

Why Foxtails Are Dangerous for Dogs

Dogs are particularly exposed because they explore with their noses, run through grass, lie on the ground, cross dry areas, and easily pick up plant debris in their fur or between their toes.

Foxtails can enter through several entry points:

• ears

• nostrils

• eyes

• spaces between toes (interdigital)

• skin

• mouth

• respiratory tract

• more rarely, genital tract

Once inside, the foxtail causes a local reaction.

The body reacts as it would to any foreign body: inflammation, pain, discharge, sometimes a fistula or abscess.

The problem is that medical treatment alone is usually not enough if the foxtail remains in place. Antibiotics or anti-inflammatories can temporarily improve the signs, but as long as the foreign body is not removed, the problem can recur.

In veterinary literature, foxtails are described as migrating foreign plant bodies.

Their location can be superficial and relatively simple to treat, but it can also become much more complex as they progress into deeper tissues.

The Most Commonly Affected Areas

A retrospective study of 182 cases of foxtail migration in dogs and cats (Brennan & Ihrke, J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1983 - PMID 6345495) showed that the external auditory canal was the most frequent location, representing approximately 51% of cases. Other reported sites included interdigital spaces, the eye, nose, lumbar region, and thoracic cavity.

For dogs, the areas to check first after a walk are:

Warning Signs to Look Out For

Signs vary depending on the location, but some patterns are very suggestive.

In the Ear

A dog that suddenly starts shaking its head after a walk, keeps its head tilted, whines when its ear is touched, or scratches insistently should be examined quickly.

The foxtail can lodge in the external ear canal.

At this stage, it can already be very painful. If it progresses or if inflammation sets in, there is a risk of otitis, infection, or even deeper lesions.

Do not insert a cotton swab or try to remove the foxtail yourself from the ear. You risk pushing it further in or injuring the canal.

In the Nose

The classic sign is sudden: the dog sneezes violently, several times in a row, often right after an outing.

It may rub its muzzle on the ground, with its paw, or show discharge from only one nostril. A small amount of bleeding may also appear.

A nasal foxtail can be very irritating. Even if the sneezing then decreases, it does not mean the problem is solved.

The foxtail may still be present, causing rhinitis, persistent discharge, or migrating deeper. The dog should therefore see a vet quickly.

In the Eye

A closed, painful, red eye, with tearing or scratching, should be considered a veterinary emergency.

The foxtail can get stuck under an eyelid or in contact with the cornea.

The risk is corneal damage (corneal ulcer), sometimes rapid.

Do not rub, rinse aimlessly for hours, or wait until the next day if the eye remains closed. A painful eye in a dog warrants a quick consultation.

Between the Toes

Interdigital spaces are a common entry point.

The dog may intensely lick a paw, limp, refuse to have the area touched, or show swelling between two toes.

At first, the foxtail may be visible. But very quickly, it can embed under the skin.

A small wound, an abscess, or a fistula with discharge may then appear.

This is typically the kind of situation where one thinks of a simple irritation, when a foreign body is still present.

In case of a wound, abscess, or fistula (with or without discharge), the dog should see a vet quickly.

In the Respiratory Tract

Inhaled foxtails can cause a sudden, sometimes intense cough, then more subtle but persistent signs.

Some foreign plant bodies can migrate into the respiratory system and lead to severe complications, including deep infections.

This is not the most frequent scenario in pet dogs, but it is one of the serious situations described in veterinary medicine.

A violent cough that appears suddenly after a walk in tall grass should therefore not be trivialized.

What Can Happen If You Wait

The main risk is allowing the foxtail to progress or become encysted (creation of a cyst). The longer it stays in place, the more significant the inflammatory reaction can become.

The dog may then present:

• persistent pain

• an abscess

• a fistula

• an infection

• lameness

• chronic discharge

• respiratory problems

• worsening despite medical treatment

In some cases, the signs become misleading.

A deep or chronic infection can resemble many other diseases. The diagnosis can then be delayed,especially if the foxtail is no longer visible...

That's why symptoms should always be linked to the context: a walk in tall grass, a dry season, a dog that suddenly starts sneezing, limping, coughing, licking, or shaking its head violently.

Areas to check first:

• between the toes

• under the paw pads

• around the ears

• in the folds of the ear flap

• around the eyes

• around the nostrils

• under the belly

• in the groin area

• under the armpits

• in areas of long or dense fur

For dogs with long, dense, curly, or thick fur, brushing after a walk is particularly important. Foxtails can get caught in the fur before progressing to the skin.

During the high-risk season, it may also be useful to shorten the hair only between the toes and around the ears for predisposed dogs (do not shave the entire dog, unless instructed by a vet).

What Not to Do

Do not try to extract a deeply embedded foxtail with tweezers if its tip is not clearly visible. You risk breaking it, pushing it further in, or leaving a part of the foreign body behind.

Do not insert any object into the ear or nostril.

Do not wait several days with a closed eye, lameness, a sudden cough, or a purulent discharge.

Do not reassure yourself that the dog seems a little better after a few hours. Some signs diminish when the foxtail has migrated further or the immediate irritation subsides, without the problem being resolved.

What the Veterinarian Does

When the foxtail is visible and accessible, the veterinarian can remove it directly with appropriate tools. But in many cases, the foxtail is no longer visible by the time of the consultation.

Depending on the location, the veterinarian may use:

• otoscopic examination for the ears

• ophthalmological examination for the eyes

• exploration of the wound or fistula

• ultrasound

• CT scan

• endoscopy

• sometimes surgery

Ultrasound is particularly useful for certain migrating foxtails in soft tissues.

A systematic review published in 2023 (Caivano et al., Animals, PMC10340067) confirms the usefulness of ultrasound for identifying foxtails and guiding their removal.

Treatment then depends on the location, depth, associated infection, and the dog's overall condition.

When to Consult Quickly

You should consult quickly if, after a walk in a high-risk area, the dog shows:

• violent sneezing

• bleeding from one nostril

• a closed or painful eye

• a tilted head

• repeated head shaking

• sudden lameness

• obsessive paw licking

• a painful lump between the toes

• a draining wound

• a sudden cough

• difficulty breathing

• unusual pain

When in doubt, it's better to get it checked out for "nothing" than to let things get worse.

Conclusion

Foxtails are not just dry grass. They are foreign plant bodies capable of attaching, penetrating, and migrating within a dog's body.

The course of action is based on three key reflexes: avoid tall, dry grass during the risk season, carefully inspect the dog after each outing, and consult quickly as soon as a sudden sign appears after a walk.

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Sources

1. Brennan KE, Ihrke PJ. Grass awn migration in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 182 cases. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1983;182(11):1201-1204. PMID: 6345495. Caivano D, Birettoni F, Marchesi MC, et al. Application of Ultrasound in Detecting and Removing Migrating Grass Awns in Dogs and Cats: A Systematic Review. Animals. 2023;13(13):2071. PMC10340067.
2. Le Point Vétérinaire n°419, July 2021. Epidemiology and clinical signs of grass awn migration. Le Point Vétérinaire n°419, July 2021. Diagnostic tools for migrating foreign body inhalation.
3. Le Point Vétérinaire n°332, 2013. Intravesical plant foreign body in a dog. Le Point Vétérinaire n°285, 2008. Hydronephrosis secondary to grass awn migration. CHV Frégis. Grass awn migration in dogs.