M.P.
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Can you mow the yard and thus get rid of the foxtails?
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Well spring is here and the summer is coming sooner and I have a major problem with fox tails in my backyard. My elderly dog loves to roam around and unfortunately no matter what I seem to do she gets those awful fox tails in her paws, ears, and on her coat. I have tried a lot of things but nothing seems to help. We are very careful to look her over and take them out if we find them but I'm trying to stop the problem before it starts. ANY IDEAS? I guess I'm looking for a company that can help
Can you mow the yard and thus get rid of the foxtails?
When we'd get burrs in the horse's tails, we'd use Cowboy Magic. It's a conditioner that you leave in. I've seen horses with "dreadlocks" in their manes and tails, and burrs throughout, embedded. And even those, with an hour and some Cowboy Magic, you can get the tail and mane combed out. And the burrs didn't stick as well after that (I think the product probably has some silicone in it, so it gives it "slip").
So, you might check your livestock supply store, or a dog groomers supply catalog/website to see if they have something similar (like a spray in conditioner for dogs). Or ask your dog groomer what they suggest.
Can you or a yard service remove them? Foxtails can be really dangerous to the dogs. I worked as a vet tech before I went into medical sales and I can't count how many foxtail removals I was involved in. They can enter through the paw and at best have to be removed with forceps. In much worse situations (although very common), they migrate up the paw/leg because they have nowhere to go but up. These situations required surgery and a lot of probing because they are very difficult to locate. It can cause a lot of pain and infection.
How big is your yard? Can you get a large kennel and keep just that space 100% free of them? My stupid dog always managed to brush against poison ivy and we can NOT figure out where it's coming from... I'M not allergic to poison ivy but my fiance and the kids are... talk about a pain ;)
