Our Blog

A waving field of foxtails may be the peaceful, natural moment you need to calm your mind, but beware. These clusters of seeds can be dangerous for your dog. Our easy-to-follow guide will help you and your dog avoid issues with foxtails.

Where Are Foxtails Found?

Foxtails get their name from their resemblance to bushy foxes’ tails, but that’s all they should ever have in common with canines. These seed clusters are often found on hiking trails, along roads, and even in backyards.So they’re common in areas where we might play, hike, or camp with our pet dogs.

Why Is This Plant a Problem?

Foxtails become problematic in the summer because they’ve had time to dry out, get hard, and create a real ouch for anyone who comes into direct contact with them. Since we never get a true freeze off in the winter, they can be a problem in our area throughout the year. Because they are generally knee-high (or waist-high) for us, we may not see their danger. Yet, that exact height brings them to nose and eye-level for our dogs, and that’s where the trouble starts.

Like arrows, foxtails can seem smooth in one direction and barbed in the other. The targets for these particular arrows would be your dog’s nostrils, mouth, ears, and eyes. Getting poked in the face with grass seems painful enough!

Unfortunately, the injuries often don’t end there. Just like any thorn or stick, foxtails can stick and puncture, leading to pain and potential infection. What’s even worse, dogs can breathe in these sneaky, dart-like seeds, which can subsequently get caught in the nasal passages or throat. In what’s known as “migration,” foxtails can continue to make their way through these passages until they’re in the brain or lungs. These are emergency situations.

What to Watch Out For

Cuts, scrapes, and punctures can lead to limping or consistent licking. Injuries that become swollen, warm, or pus-filled can be infected and will require attention from your veterinary team. Whether from a surface injury or from a migrating foxtail, other signs of serious infection include lethargy, confusion, and lack of appetite.

Eyes, ears, and noses may swell or redden if poked by a foxtail. You could see discharge from these areas, too. But you need to be on the lookout for signals that a foxtail has become a foreign body (an object that has become lodged internally) that must be removed, too. A migrating foxtail might make your dog:

• Sneeze repeatedly
• Gag or cough
• Tilt or shake their head

Especially after outdoor time, contact us or the nearest emergency vet if you notice these signs.

Prevent Foxtail Veterinary Emergencies

What can you do to protect your pet from this summer weed? Plan ahead and be vigilant with these tips:

• After walks, check your dog all over, including in the eyes, ears, fur, and space between toes for foxtail hitchhikers.
• Consider asking your groomer for a shorter “summer cut” to discourage debris from sticking to fur.
• If you see foxtail spikes in your dog’s coat, use gloves or tweezers to remove them to avoid hurting yourself.

You’ve heard about an ounce of prevention, and in this case, it’s to simply avoid tall, grassy areas and not encounter foxtails in the first place.
Who knew that grass could be such a problem? We did, and now you do, too! We at Bowman Veterinary Hospital hope that you and your pets stay safe this summer!

A waving field of foxtails may be the peaceful, natural moment you need to calm your mind, but beware. These clusters of seeds can be dangerous for your dog. Our easy-to-follow guide will help you and your dog avoid issues with foxtails.

Gatherings around the grill are a staple of the summer season, and it’s natural to want to include your furry family member in the festivities. But some people foods are a recipe for disaster when it comes to our pets. In this blog, our team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital offers helpful guidance on foods that should never be fed to pets, and how to prevent potential outdoor hazards.

Cats are fundamentally different from dogs (and humans!) in one big way: they’re obligate carnivores. This means their bodies need animal-based protein in order to function. Unlike omnivores, cats only need nutrients found in meat.

They don’t need fruits. They don’t need vegetables.

All they need is meat.

Today, the team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital will explore exactly how a high-protein diet benefits our feline friends. 

As our pets get older, their bodies go through changes that can take their toll. One of the most common conditions that affects senior pets is arthritis, and in particular, osteoarthritis (OA).

Today, the team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital wants to make sure the pet parents in our community know what to watch for with arthritis. 

Having a green thumb and owning a pet are not mutually exclusive but growing certain plants, trees, flowers and shrubs does require careful consideration in (and around) a pet’s environment. This can mean that certain plants are off-limits, but the sacrifice is usually well worth it. 

Since a pet poisoning is one of the scariest experiences for pets and their people alike, it makes sense to eliminate all the possible risks inside the home and around the property.

If your pet is constantly scratching, sneezing, or licking, pet allergies might be the culprit. At Bowman Veterinary Hospital, we’re here to help you uncover the cause of your pet’s discomfort and explore effective allergy treatments for pets to get their tails wagging happily again.

Few things are more overwhelming than heading to your nearest pet supply store and trying to pick the perfect food for your furry friends. Shelves are absolutely packed with options. Worse, they all seem to be clamoring for the title of healthiest pet food ever. It’s no wonder choosing pet food can be downright daunting.

Your goal as a pet parent is to look past the flashy claims and get down to business: reading pet food labels. These are overwhelming too, but with this guide from the team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital, you’ll be ready to pick a nutritious food brand for your pet. 

Imagine this: your dog suddenly cuts her paw on a walk, or your cat eats something he shouldn’t.

Would you know what to do?

Being equipped with pet first-aid skills is more than just a practical matter. It’s an act of love that can save your furry companion’s life.

The team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital is here to help with emergency care for pets. In today’s blog, we’ll show you how to prepare for emergencies. The goal? For you to be able to confidently handle situations until you can get your pet professional pet emergency care.

It can be hard to tell what is going on with your pets and their health. Since they can’t physically tell us when something is wrong, it’s up to us to recognize the signs of an issue. Bowman Veterinary Hospital is here to help you understand when to call the vet for dental issues and when it can wait.