Foxtails in Dogs: Why Surface Tweezing Fails, Migration Risks & Imaging
Why migrating foxtail grass awns require extraction: Philp 2022 791-case UC Davis data, ear/nose/paw symptoms, ultrasound vs CT, and antibiotic limits.
Following a summer hike through dry open fields, a run through an overgrown dog park, or even a walk past dry roadside weeds, your dog suddenly begins sneezing violently, shaking their head uncontrollably, or obsessively licking a single paw. You inspect the coat, find a few barbed grass seeds, and carefully pluck them off with household tweezers.
Relief seems reasonable—until the violent sneezing persists, a bloody droplet appears at a single nostril, a swollen bump forms between the dog's toes, or the dog holds one eye squinted shut.
The central biological reality of canine grass awn exposure is that foxtails are designed for unidirectional, relentless forward migration.
A foxtail is not a harmless burr that sits passively on the skin until brushed away. Armed with microscopic, backward-pointing retrobarbs, an embedded grass awn moves only in one direction: deeper into living tissue with every muscle twitch, head shake, step, and breath. Once an awn enters an ear canal, nasal passage, conjunctival sac, or interdigital paw web, it will not dissolve, work itself out, or heal with antibiotics alone.
In the definitive 10-year veterinary study from the University of California, Davis (Philp et al., 2022; 791 confirmed cases), migrating grass awns presented across diverse anatomical sites—most commonly the ears, skin/paws, and nose—and required advanced imaging such as radiologist-supervised ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) when deep tracts developed.
Below is an evidence-based clinical guide to recognizing foxtail entry signs, understanding why home probing fails, navigating diagnostic ultrasound and CT, evaluating the true microbiological risks of draining tracts, and ensuring safe, complete extraction.
Direct Answer: What to Do If You Suspect an Embedded Foxtail
If your dog has had recent exposure to dry, seeded grasses and exhibits acute localized distress, follow this clinical decision pathway:
[Dog Presenting with Acute Distress After Exposure to Dry Weeds / Grass]
│
▼
[Step 1: Immediate Triage & Anatomical Localization]
- Violent paroxysmal sneezing / unilateral epistaxis --> NASAL CANAL
- Uncontrollable head shaking / ear scratching / tilt --> AURAL CANAL (EAR)
- Obsessive licking of ONE paw / interdigital bump --> CUTANEOUS (PAW WEB)
- Squinting / blepharospasm / ocular tearing --> OPHTHALMIC (EYE)
- Deep coughing / dyspnea / fever / lethargy --> INTRACAVITARY (CHEST)
│
▼
[Step 2: Safe Home Actions vs Emergency Rules]
- SAFE: Tweeze loose, fully visible seed heads resting on the coat surface
- FORBIDDEN: NEVER probe into ears, nostrils, eyes, or draining skin holes
- DO NOT apply topical ear drops or mineral oil if the eardrum is unverified
│
▼
[Step 3: Clinical Veterinary Examination & Extraction]
- Otoscopic exam under sedation (evaluate tympanic membrane integrity)
- Rhinoscopy / retroflexed pharyngoscopy for nasal foreign bodies
- Interdigital exploration / surgical tract retrieval
│
┌──────────────────┴──────────────────┐
▼ ▼
[Superficial / Direct Extraction] [Deep / Non-Healing Draining Tract]
- Direct retrieval with alligator - Radiologist-Supervised Ultrasound
forceps or endoscope (72.8% awn detection rate; Philp 2022)
- Inspect retrieved awn to confirm - Computed Tomography (CT) for
the ENTIRE seed head is intact intracavitary / sublumbar tracts
│ │
└────────┬─────────┘
▼
[Step 4: Post-Extraction Care & Targeted Antimicrobials]
- Broad-spectrum anaerobic antibiotic coverage (if abscessed / infected)
- Recheck exam to confirm complete resolution of draining sinuses
- Localize the anatomical entry site immediately. Clinical signs correlate precisely with where the awn entered: violent paroxysmal sneezing for the nose, vigorous head shaking for the ear, paw licking or a red interdigital nodule for the paw, and squinting for the eye.
- Never probe into body cavities or draining holes at home. Probing an ear canal, nostril, or interdigital tract with tweezers or cotton swabs inevitably pushes the barbed awn deeper, risks puncturing the tympanic membrane (eardrum), or breaks the brittle awn, leaving microscopic barbed fragments behind.
- Understand why antibiotics without removal fail. Administering antibiotics to a dog with a draining foxtail tract frequently produces temporary improvement by reducing secondary bacterial swelling. However, because the physical foreign body remains inside, the awn will resume migrating the moment antibiotics are stopped, often traveling into deeper muscular compartments, the pleural cavity, or the spine.
- Seek veterinary care promptly before migration advances. In the early hours after exposure, an awn in an ear canal or nostril is often easily visualized and extracted under mild sedation with specialized forceps. Once the awn penetrates tissue and enters subcutaneous tissue or body cavities, extraction requires advanced imaging (ultrasound or CT) and invasive surgery.
- Confirm that the entire seed head was removed. Grass awns fracture easily. If a small fragment or barb remains in the tissue, chronic granulomatous inflammation and foreign-body sinus tracts will persist.
Anatomy & Biomechanics: Why Grass Awns Only Move Forward
The term "foxtail" refers broadly to the dry, spikelet seed heads of various wild grasses—most commonly wild barley (Hordeum murinum), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), wild oats (Avena fatua), and speargrass (Stipa species).
ANATOMY OF A MIGRATING FOXTAIL
/| <-- Sharp penetrating apical point
/ |
/ | <-- Rigid retrobarbs (oriented backwards)
/ | * Glides forward easily into tissue
/ | * Barbs catch and lock if pulled backward
/ |
/======| <-- Dense, brittle seed body
/ / / / |
/ / / / / <-- Extended awn fibers (act as mechanical rudders)
The Unidirectional Ratchet Mechanism
The physical architecture of a grass awn operates as a biological ratchet:
- The Sharp Apical Tip: The forward point of the seed is sharp and rigid enough to pierce intact mucous membranes, conjunctiva, and thin interdigital skin.
- Microscopic Retrobarbs: The surface of the awn is covered in hundreds of microscopic, backward-slanting barbs (resembling fishhook barbs).
- Mechanical Propulsion: When tissue moves around the awn—such as when a dog shakes its head, walks, inhales, or swallows—the barbs allow the awn to slide smoothly forward while firmly hooking into surrounding collagen and muscle fibers to prevent any backward motion.
Because mammalian tissues lack the enzymes required to break down structural cellulose and lignin, the grass awn cannot be degraded or dissolved by the immune system.
The Philp et al. (UC Davis 2022) 791-Case Study: Locations & Outcomes
The most comprehensive modern clinical dataset on companion animal grass awn foreign bodies was published by Philp, Epstein, and Hopper in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (JVECC 2022;32:653–662, PMID 35522424):
UC DAVIS 10-YEAR FOXTAIL COHORT (791 CASES)
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Clinical Parameter │ Published Study Finding │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Study Cohort & Setting │ **754 dogs and 37 cats** │
│ │ UC Davis VMTH (2009–2018) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Hospital Caseload Prevalence │ **0.25% in dogs** (about 1 in │
│ │ 400 canine visits at UC Davis) │
│ │ **0.07% in cats** — caseload, │
│ │ not US incidence │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Primary Canine Anatomical Locations │ - **Aural Canal (Ears): 28.6%** │
│ │ - **Cutaneous/SubQ: 26.7%** │
│ │ (47.3% of these interdigital) │
│ │ - **Nasal Canal (Nose): 18.0%** │
│ │ - Remaining sites include eyes, │
│ │ mouth, and deep body-cavity │
│ │ migration (not a complete map) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Primary Feline Anatomical Location │ **Ophthalmic (Eyes): 81.1%** │
│ │ (30 of 37 feline cases) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Clinical Presentation Status │ 86.1% symptomatic; 11.9% incidental│
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Hospital Management & Disposition │ **77.1% Outpatient Management** │
│ │ **22.9% Inpatient / Surgical** │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Survival to Hospital Discharge │ **99.5% for dogs** │
│ │ **94.6% for cats** │
└──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
Key Takeaways from the UC Davis Data:
- Ears, Paws, and Nose Account for Nearly Three-Quarters of All Canine Cases: In dogs, the external ear canal (28.6%), skin and subcutaneous tissue (26.7%—with nearly half located between the toes), and the nasal passages (18.0%) constitute 73.3% of all confirmed foxtail presentations.
- Cats Present Overwhelmingly with Eye Lesions: Unlike dogs, whose active foraging and sniffing expose their ears and noses, domestic cats presented with ocular foxtails in 81.1% of cases (30 of 37 cats), usually trapped behind the third eyelid (nictitating membrane).
- High Overall Survival with Timely Care: Short-term survival to hospital discharge was exceptional (99.5% for dogs), with the vast majority (77.1%) managed successfully on an outpatient basis. However, the 22.9% requiring inpatient surgical care represented complex, life-threatening deep migrations (such as pyothorax, lung lobe abscesses, or retroperitoneal infections).
Anatomical Presentation Matrix: Signs, Risks & Extraction Pathways
ANATOMICAL FOXTAIL TRIAGE MATRIX
┌──────────────────────┬────────────────────────┬────────────────────────┬────────────────────────┐
│ Body Site │ Clinical Presentation │ Major Clinical Risks │ Veterinary Extraction │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┤
│ **Aural Canal** │ Violent head shaking, │ Tympanic membrane │ Otoscopic visualization│
│ (Ears - 28.6%) │ ear scratching, head │ rupture, otitis media, │ under sedation; │
│ │ tilt, whining, odor │ vestibular disease │ alligator forceps │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┤
│ **Interdigital Paws**│ Constant paw licking, │ Deep fascial migration,│ Surgical exploration, │
│ (Cutaneous - 26.7%) │ red swelling between │ tendon sheath infection│ ultrasound-guided │
│ │ toes, draining sinus │ osteomyelitis │ retrieval, tract flush │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┤
│ **Nasal Passages** │ Explosive paroxysmal │ Cribriform plate │ Rhinoscopy under │
│ (Nose - 18.0%) │ sneezing, unilateral │ penetration (CNS), │ general anesthesia with│
│ │ epistaxis, pawing nose │ chronic fungal rhinitis│ endotracheal cuff seal │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┤
│ **Ophthalmic** │ Blepharospasm, severe │ Corneal ulceration, │ Topical anesthesia; │
│ (Eyes) │ conjunctival chemosis, │ corneal perforation, │ third eyelid elevation │
│ │ mucoid eye discharge │ endophthalmitis │ and conjunctival flush │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┤
│ **Intracavitary** │ Chronic productive │ Pyothorax, lung lobe │ CT mapping, thoracotomy│
│ (Thorax / Abdomen) │ cough, dyspnea, fever, │ consolidation, │ or laparotomy, lung │
│ │ sublumbar pain, sepsis │ sublumbar abscess │ lobectomy, drainage │
└──────────────────────┴────────────────────────┴────────────────────────┴────────────────────────┘
1. Ears (Aural Canal)
When an awn falls into the external ear canal, it quickly migrates down the vertical and horizontal canals toward the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The rigid barbs scraping against sensitive epithelial lining cause excruciating pain. If untreated, the awn can puncture the tympanic membrane, introducing bacteria into the middle ear (otitis media) and inner ear, resulting in Horner's syndrome, facial nerve paralysis, or severe vestibular head tilts. That is a different problem from routine otitis externa, which lists plant awns as one primary trigger.
2. Paws (Interdigital Cutaneous Webbing)
As a dog walks through dry grass, seed heads become caught in the interdigital fur. The sharp tip penetrates the thin skin between the toes, creating a small entry hole that quickly closes over, leaving a red, swollen, draining tract. The dog licks the paw constantly. The awn then migrates proximally up the leg along fascial planes and tendon sheaths. This is a foreign-body emergency, not the four-paw allergy pattern on that page.
3. Nose (Nasal Cavity)
Dogs exploring weeds inhale seed heads directly into the nostrils. The dog reacts instantly with explosive, violent bouts of sneezing (sometimes 20 to 30 sneezes in a row) and may rub its face frantically against the ground. Unilateral bloody discharge (epistaxis) is common. While some awns are sneezed out or swallowed, others migrate caudally into the nasopharynx or, rarely, toward deeper structures. Persistent one-sided discharge after the acute sneezing fit belongs on the chronic nasal discharge workup, not a "cold."
4. Thoracic & Intracavitary Migration
If an inhaled grass awn passes through the larynx and enters the bronchial tree, or if an awn penetrates the chest wall directly, it migrates through pulmonary parenchyma. This induces severe foreign-body pneumonia, lung abscessation, and septic pyothorax (pus in the pleural cavity), presenting with coughing, rapid shallow breathing, high fever, and systemic collapse.
Diagnostic Imaging Ladder: Radiographs, Ultrasound & CT
Locating a radiolucent organic plant structure embedded deep within living tissue is one of the most challenging diagnostic tasks in veterinary medicine.
IMAGING MODALITY COMPARISON
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Plain Radiography (X-Ray) Limits │ High-Resolution Ultrasound Power │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ - Grass awns are **radiolucent** │ - Highly sensitive for soft tissue│
│ - Cannot visualize the plant itself │ - Visualizes linear hyperechoic │
│ - Detects secondary changes only: │ structures with acoustic shadow│
│ pleural effusion, soft tissue gas, │ - Identifies hypoechoic halo │
│ or secondary osteomyelitis │ (granuloma / fluid pocket) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Emergency POCUS (Point-of-Care) │ Board-Certified Specialist US │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ - Low diagnostic yield: **35%** │ - High diagnostic yield: **72.8%**│
│ (7 of 20 cases; Clinician's Brief) │ (83 of 114; Philp 2022) │
└──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
The Power of High-Resolution Diagnostic Ultrasound
High-frequency linear ultrasound probes (10–18 MHz) operated by experienced imaging specialists represent the premier tool for locating soft-tissue and subcutaneous foxtails:
- Sonographic Appearance: A foxtail appears as a distinct linear, hyperechoic structure with parallel bright margins (representing the paired awns) accompanied by an acoustic shadow.
- Inflammatory Halo: The awn is typically surrounded by an irregular hypoechoic (dark) fluid rim, representing focal abscess formation, granulomatous tissue, or edema.
- Specialist vs POCUS Accuracy: In the Philp et al. (2022) dataset, radiologist-supervised ultrasound definitively located the grass awn in 72.8% of 114 scanned cases (83 of 114). Conversely, emergency point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) visualized the awn in only 35% (7 of 20 cases) in the Clinician's Brief summary of the same series. That gap is about operator and equipment, not a reason to skip imaging.
Computed Tomography (CT) for Deep & Intracavitary Migrations
For dogs with suspected thoracic migration, sublumbar abscesses, or complex multi-branching draining sinuses:
- In the Philp et al. study, CT performed in 78 dogs with suspected body-cavity migration identified structural changes directly related to the foxtail in 100% of cases.
- Clinician's Brief's 2023 summary of the same series is the important caveat: CT definitively identified the foxtail itself in only 15.4% of those 78 dogs. CT maps the inflammatory path; it often does not show the plant. Do not treat a "negative" plant-visible CT as proof the awn is gone.
Microbiology: Anaerobic Dominance vs The Actinomyces Myth
For decades, veterinary clinical dogma taught that non-healing draining tracts caused by grass awns were primarily infected with Actinomyces species. The modern microbiological data from Philp et al. (2022) fundamentally overturned this belief.
UC DAVIS FOXTAIL MICROBIOLOGICAL CENSUS
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Microbiological Metric (80 Cultures) │ Published Finding │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Overall Culture Results │ Dominated by **polymicrobial** │
│ │ **anaerobic bacteria** │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Total Anaerobic Isolates Identified │ **120 anaerobic isolates** │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Most Common Anaerobic Pathogens │ 1. *Bacteroides* / *Prevotella* │
│ │ species (**n = 38**) │
│ │ 2. *Fusobacterium* species │
│ │ (**n = 32**) │
│ │ 3. *Peptostreptococcus │
│ │ anaerobius* (**n = 30**) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ *Actinomyces* Isolation Frequency │ **Rarely isolated** │
│ │ (Disproves historical dogma) │
└──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
Clinical Significance of Anaerobic Dominance:
Because plant awns carry soil- and plant-associated microflora into deep, oxygen-depleted fascial tissue, standard aerobic-only antibiotics (such as first-generation cephalosporins) frequently fail.
When antimicrobial therapy is indicated alongside physical removal, veterinary treatment plans prioritize broad-spectrum agents with robust anaerobic activity—such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, metronidazole, clindamycin, or pradofloxacin.
Seasonality & Geographic Distribution: Beyond California
While California and the western United States have the highest clinical concentration of foxtail cases due to Mediterranean climate cycles (wet springs followed by bone-dry summers), barbed grass awns are a nationwide and international veterinary concern:
GEOGRAPHIC & SEASONAL PATTERNS
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Geographic Region │ Common Awn Species & Seasonality │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **Western US (CA, OR, WA, NV, AZ)** │ *Hordeum murinum*, *Bromus* spp. │
│ │ Peaks May through October; │
│ │ warm zones see year-round cases │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **Intermountain & Plains (CO, ID, UT)│ Cheatgrass (*Bromus tectorum*), │
│ │ Speargrass (*Stipa* viridula) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **Midwest & Eastern US** │ Foxtail barley, yellow foxtail │
│ │ (*Setaria* pumila) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **International (Australia / Europe)│ *Hordeum*, *Stipa*, *Avena* │
│ │ (Hicks et al. 2016 AUS series) │
└──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
The Drying Cycle
In early spring, foxtail grasses are green, soft, and relatively harmless. As summer temperatures rise, the seed heads mature, turn golden brown, dry out, and shatter into individual barbed spikelets that detach easily upon contact with animal fur.
Prevention & Field Management Strategies
For hunting dogs, working breeds, and active companion pets living in awn-endemic areas, proactive prevention is essential:
PROACTIVE PREVENTION PROTOCOL
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Prevention Measure │ Implementation Detail │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **Post-Walk "Foxtail Sweep"** │ Methodical finger-combing of │
│ │ interdigital webbing, ears, │
│ │ armpits, groin, and underbelly │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **Protective Field Gear** │ Protective mesh head netting │
│ (For high-risk field/hunting dogs) │ (e.g., OutFox Field Guard); │
│ │ breathable protective dog boots │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **Grooming & Coat Management** │ Trim feathering on paws and ears │
│ │ during peak summer months │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ **Landscape Management** │ Mow weeds while green; discard │
│ │ clippings; avoid weed-whacking │
│ │ dry seed heads into yards │
└──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
2026 Diagnostic & Extraction Cost Breakdown
Veterinary costs for managing grass awns vary significantly based on how quickly the foreign body is addressed:
2026 ESTIMATED COST BENCHMARKS
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┐
│ Clinical Service / Procedure │ Estimated Cost Range (USD) │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ GP Consultation & Basic Sedation │ $120 – $220 │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Simple Otoscopic / Ear Awn Removal │ $180 – $380 │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Sedated Rhinoscopy & Nasal Removal │ $450 – $950 │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ High-Resolution Ultrasound Mapping │ $350 – $650 │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Surgical Exploration of Paw Sinus │ $400 – $900 │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Thoracic / Abdominal CT Scan │ $1,400 – $2,400 │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────┤
│ Thoracotomy / Lung Lobectomy Surgery │ $4,500 – $9,000+ │
└──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┘
(Note: Fee ranges are dated 2026 North American clinic and specialty-hospital estimates, not an internal claims dataset. Actual costs vary by region, anesthesia risk, and whether the awn is still in an ear canal or already in the chest.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a dog survive with a foxtail?
Yes. With timely veterinary intervention and complete physical extraction of the seed head, short-term survival is outstanding (99.5% of dogs survived to hospital discharge in the UC Davis series). That figure is survival to discharge at one endemic teaching hospital, not proof that a chest or spinal foxtail is mild. If an embedded foxtail is ignored or treated only with antibiotics, it can keep migrating and cause pyothorax, spinal infection, or sepsis.
How can I tell if my dog has a foxtail?
Signs depend on where the awn entered:
- Nose: Sudden, explosive, violent sneezing and unilateral clear or bloody nasal discharge.
- Ears: Persistent, frantic head shaking, pawing at the ear, head tilting, and crying when touched.
- Paws: Obsessive licking of one specific paw, limping, and a red, swollen, pimple-like bump between the toes.
- Eyes: Holding one eye tightly shut (blepharospasm), tearing, and thick yellow discharge.
What is foxtail season for dogs?
In North America, foxtail season typically runs from May through October, peaking during hot, dry summer months when grass seed heads harden and shatter. However, in mild, warm climates (such as coastal California, Arizona, and the Southwest), dry grass awns can cause clinical foreign-body disease year-round.
Are foxtail weeds harmful to dogs?
Yes. Foxtails are among the most hazardous botanical threats to companion animals. Their sharp tips and microscopic backward-facing barbs allow them to penetrate skin and mucous membranes and migrate relentlessly through internal organs. They carry soil bacteria deep into tissue and cannot be dissolved or eliminated by the dog's body without complete physical removal.
Sources
- Philp HS, Epstein SE, Hopper K. Clinical and clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and outcome for dogs and cats with confirmed foxtail foreign body lesions: 791 cases (2009–2018). J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2022;32(5):653-662. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35522424/
- University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Animal Health Topics: Foxtails and Dogs. https://healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/foxtails
- Clinician's Brief. Foxtail Foreign Bodies in Dogs & Cats. Research Summary & Clinical Pearls. Published 2023. https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/foxtail-foreign-bodies-dog-cat
- MDPI Animals. Application of Ultrasound in Detecting and Removing Migrating Grass Awns in Dogs and Cats: A Systematic Review. Animals. 2023;13(13):2071. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2071
- PetMD. Foxtails: What They Are and Why They're Harmful to Dogs. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/foxtails
- Brennan KE, Ihrke PJ. Grass awn migration in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 182 cases. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1983;182(11):1201-1204. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6345495/
- Hicks A, Golland D, Heller J, Malik R, Combs M. Epidemiological investigation of grass seed foreign body-related disease in dogs of the Riverina District of rural Australia. Aust Vet J. 2016;94(3):67-75. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26914952/
