CHEAT GRASS
(Foxtails)
If you have lived in Idaho for a summer then you are probably familiar
with Cheat grass (Bromus tectorum), also called "foxtails", among
other names. The problem comes from way the plant spreads its seeds.
As the days get warmer and the afternoon winds pick up, the foxtails dry
up, turn golden brown, and become the stickers that attack your socks
and pant legs. They will cause problems for your pets too. Foxtails will
migrate in one direction after it attaches to the fur or finds its way into an
opening on the animal.
Once a Cheat grass has penetrated the skin or passed through an
opening such as an ear, it needs to be removed. Although it seems
hard to believe, Cheat grass can cause life threatening problems.
During certain times of the year, we see several pets a week that are
limping and licking their feet (paws), shaking their head (ears), pawing at
their eye (under third eyelid), and sneezing (nose).
In male dogs the seeds can work their way into the prepuce (skin
around the penis) and in female dogs they can work their way into the
vulva. There are cases where foxtails have gotten under the skin and
migrated to the lungs, into the heart, and into the spinal cord.
Treatment
When a Cheat grass burrows under the skin, the body begins to "wall
off" and isolate the seed. In most cases, the affected area becomes
swollen and forms an abscess.
The veterinarian will find the entrance point where the Cheat grass
burrowed into the animal. With forceps, the doctor will probe the area for
the hidden Cheat grass. In some cases, flushing out the abscessed
area with a sterile saline solution is necessary. Then the doctor will decide
whether your pet needs antibiotics.
Prevention
What can you do to help protect your pet? First rid your own yard of
the plant. Be particular where you walk your dog. If you spot Cheat grass,
go to a different area, although it is difficult to do in our environment.
Make it a habit to check your pet at the end of the day and brush the
fur looking for and removing Cheat grass. It is a good idea to have the
groomer clip the hair between the toes and on the paws to help keep
Cheat grass out and make it easier to spot stickers before they enter the
skin.
Disclaimer: Vista Animal Hospital makes sincere efforts to ensure the
accuracy of information posted on this website. VAH cannot and will not
be held responsible or liable for errors, inaccuracies or improper use of
information by the reader. Readers who rely on the information
contained on this web site or on other web sites accessed from this one
do so at their own risk and are advised to consult with their veterinarian
before acting on it.
*For More Information Please Contact Your Vet!*
(Foxtails)
If you have lived in Idaho for a summer then you are probably familiar
with Cheat grass (Bromus tectorum), also called "foxtails", among
other names. The problem comes from way the plant spreads its seeds.
As the days get warmer and the afternoon winds pick up, the foxtails dry
up, turn golden brown, and become the stickers that attack your socks
and pant legs. They will cause problems for your pets too. Foxtails will
migrate in one direction after it attaches to the fur or finds its way into an
opening on the animal.
Once a Cheat grass has penetrated the skin or passed through an
opening such as an ear, it needs to be removed. Although it seems
hard to believe, Cheat grass can cause life threatening problems.
During certain times of the year, we see several pets a week that are
limping and licking their feet (paws), shaking their head (ears), pawing at
their eye (under third eyelid), and sneezing (nose).
In male dogs the seeds can work their way into the prepuce (skin
around the penis) and in female dogs they can work their way into the
vulva. There are cases where foxtails have gotten under the skin and
migrated to the lungs, into the heart, and into the spinal cord.
Treatment
When a Cheat grass burrows under the skin, the body begins to "wall
off" and isolate the seed. In most cases, the affected area becomes
swollen and forms an abscess.
The veterinarian will find the entrance point where the Cheat grass
burrowed into the animal. With forceps, the doctor will probe the area for
the hidden Cheat grass. In some cases, flushing out the abscessed
area with a sterile saline solution is necessary. Then the doctor will decide
whether your pet needs antibiotics.
Prevention
What can you do to help protect your pet? First rid your own yard of
the plant. Be particular where you walk your dog. If you spot Cheat grass,
go to a different area, although it is difficult to do in our environment.
Make it a habit to check your pet at the end of the day and brush the
fur looking for and removing Cheat grass. It is a good idea to have the
groomer clip the hair between the toes and on the paws to help keep
Cheat grass out and make it easier to spot stickers before they enter the
skin.
Disclaimer: Vista Animal Hospital makes sincere efforts to ensure the
accuracy of information posted on this website. VAH cannot and will not
be held responsible or liable for errors, inaccuracies or improper use of
information by the reader. Readers who rely on the information
contained on this web site or on other web sites accessed from this one
do so at their own risk and are advised to consult with their veterinarian
before acting on it.
*For More Information Please Contact Your Vet!*
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