On Wednesday night, Simba (my little Tibetan Spaniel), starting sneezing uncontrollably. It would stop for awhile then he’d kick in with another series of incredibly powerful sneezes. Poor little guy.

So we took him to our vet on Thursday with a resulting diagnosis of a foxtail being the most likely culprit. I’ve known about the risks of foxtails for sometime and thought I had been careful, especially since he is so low to the ground. So it was very surprising to find out that he had several areas afflicted with foxtails, including his nose, left ear, and paws. The treatment cost me about $360 (of course, my Healthy Paws Insurance Plan covered the treatment).

Our vet did a great job taking care of Simba but it made me realize that even when you are incredibly careful, things like foxtails and other grasses can be a real problem for our pets.  Once the plant heads dry, they find their way into dogs’ noses, ears, eyes, and mouths.  They can dive deep into a dog’s nostril or ear canal very quickly. Signs include excessive sneezing, coughing, bleeding from the nostrils, and tilting or shaking of the head.  Here is some helpful additional information.  If they are in your community, Simba suggests staying away from this dangerous grass!