With the arrival of spring, the days get longer and the nice weather makes it possible to take frequent walks in the open air with your puppy.
The warm season, in fact, increases the desire to take long walks in the greenery and flowery fields, but spring hides dangers that perhaps not everyone knows about: foxtails , a real problem for both dogs and cats.
In this article, if you don't know them, you will find a brief explanation of what they are, what are the symptoms to recognize them and how to protect your pet from this problem.
What are foxtails?
Awns, also called awns , are small pointed spikes belonging to some types of grasses that, once dry, easily detach from the stem. Awns are very common both in the countryside and in the city, but also in grassy areas at the sides of the road.
These small “arrow” shaped spikes easily get stuck in the fur of animals, which by constantly moving can facilitate their penetration into the skin, eyes, ears and nostrils, even affecting internal organs, as they could also be inhaled or ingested.
They represent a threat especially for long-haired dogs, in fact, once they get stuck in the coat it can become difficult to identify them and remove them in time, but this does not mean that you should underestimate the problem if you have short-haired animals, it is always good to check after every walk.
Foxtails in dogs and cats: symptoms
Once they enter the skin, foxtails can lead to more or less serious infections that can manifest themselves with different symptoms based on the affected area. In general, it manifests itself through redness and itching that can degenerate into pus, edema, swelling and pain.
The areas where foxtails can enter are:
Throat : in this case the obvious symptoms will be sudden strong coughing fits, which can also cause small losses of blood from the mouth
Nose : continuous sneezing even for several minutes
Ears : tends to keep the head tilted towards the painful side and continues to scratch, can cause ear infections and perforate the eardrum
Eyes : redness and swelling combined with intense tearing up to severe conjunctivitis
Paws : It can cause severe pain in the paw caused by abscesses and fistulas located between the toes which can cause him to limp.
How to protect it from foxtails
Unlike mosquitoes and parasites , there are no repellent products and lotions that prevent foxtails from coming into contact with the animal. But there are some very useful precautions that could protect it:
- Avoid areas with tall grass, but be careful because all areas with dirt, flower beds but also sidewalks.
- Brush and check your dog or cat's fur after each walk using specific grooming tools, especially if they have long hair. Foxtails sting, if touched they can be felt.
- Do not underestimate any symptom, intervene immediately in the presence of suspicious symptoms.
If you are afraid that your puppy has come into contact with foxtails , it is always advisable to contact your trusted veterinarian ; it is essential to intervene with the right timing to avoid surgical intervention.
