The Patient
Georgia, a 7 year old female spayed Goldendoodle, came to see me for excessively licking her front right foot. The owner reported that she would not stop licking at her foot for about 2-3 days and was slightly favoring the leg when walking.
The Case
On examination, the top of her right front foot was soaked with saliva and she seemed painful when I tried to look at it. The hair was matted over the top of the foot so I asked her owner if I could shave it and clean it so I could see what was really going on. After removing the hair, I found multiple dried foxtails caught in the matted fur between the outer two toes. These are called digits 4 and 5 and are the same as our ring finger and pinky finger on our hand. There was also marked swelling of the skin between the digits as well as hyperpigmentation (dark discoloration) and erythema (redness) indicating infection and inflammation. I also found a draining tract which is a small opening in the skin and the hallmark of a foreign body under the skin. When I gently pressed on the draining tract, a foxtail emerged from under the skin and I was able to grab it using a forcep. Foxtails are the seeds of dry grasses and weeds and are ever-present in San Diego. I typically see these more in the Spring and Summer months but this Case of the Month is a reminder to be vigilant for foxtails in our area all months of the year. I saw this case on the last day of November! Foxtails are so dangerous because of the way they are shaped. They have a pokey needle-like tip that is barbed and only moves in one direction like a fish hook. So, when the seed gets caught in a dog's fur, it just keeps moving forward toward the pointy end until it penetrates the "cul-de-sac" between the digits where it burrows into the skin and leads to a skin infection which is very painful. The body recognizes the foreign invader and tries to push it out by creating a draining tract. We see these very commonly in dogs with long hair on their feet. They are especially hard to find in dogs with a blond, tan, or orange coat as the foxtails are camouflaged by the fur.
The Treatment Plan
After removing all the foxtails from Georgia's coat (she had more caught in the hair on other feet too), I flushed the wound with antiseptic, prescribed an antibiotic and a pain medication and instructed the owner to soak the foot in dissolved Epsom salts and water for 3-5 minutes twice daily until it was healed. We also sent home an E-collar so she would not be able to lick her foot.
The Outcome
Thankfully, Georgia healed very quickly and 5 days later her foot was back to normal. I always recommend that owners of dog's with furry feet keep the fur trimmed short to prevent matting and to check the feet a few times a week for any plant material. Avoid fields with overgrown grasses and visible foxtails. San Diego is my favorite city but our dry warm climate is the ideal place for these pesky pokey plants.
The Drake Center for Veterinary Care is an AAHA-accredited animal hospital located in Encinitas, CA. The Drake Center loves being a source of information for all pet owners across the country however if you have any questions regarding pet care and do not live in Encinitas, CA or surrounding cities, we encourage you to contact your local veterinarian.
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