Helpful Hiking Tools: Foxtail Guard
A Foxtail Guard can be extremely useful in protecting your dog from harmful environmental agents, specifically the dreaded foxtails. Foxtails are the dried, dead ends of a weed-like grass that (typically) flourish in the summer and die in the winter. They’re common in urban and suburban areas, but can be extremely overgrown in areas where grass can grow freely- which is a cause for concern when you and your dog hike!
Foxtails
These plants are immensely dangerous to dogs due to their one-way burrowing: the end of the foxtail is able to enter a dog’s body through any orifice (their mouth, nose, ears, or eyes) or disgustingly enough, even straight through their skin, and is unable to travel outward. Like all things in nature, this design was no mistake.
Travelling via unknowing animal hosts is the foxtail’s method of spreading its seeds. So by design, it is very good at burrowing into animals. They can be extremely dangerous, painful, and at times fatal for dogs if not caught early enough. Foxtails become stuck in their skin or orifices causing wounds, cysts, and even infection from the bacteria and debris that they hold from the outside world.
Once a foxtail has made its way into the body, the process of removing them can cost thousands of dollars in vet bills and a very uncomfortable visit for your dog. Chances are that you or your avid hiker friend have already had a bad encounter with them!
By far, the cheapest and safest measure in keeping foxtails out of your dog’s skin and body is a preventative one, which is where the Foxtail Guard comes into place.
Foxtail Hound Guard
The Foxtail Hound Guard was designed for outdoorsy and adventurous pups! The Guard is a hood placed around the dog’s head, made out of a comfortable mesh material that allows dogs to see, sniff, breathe, and drink comfortably without any of the scary stuff going in!
These guards are designed to be quick-releasing and semi heat resistant. The guard is attached in a manner that allows the owner to be able to quickly detach the hood if needed- an important safety feature for any device involved with a pet’s head and neck (like a collar). As an added benefit, the guard can also be helpful for preventing your dog from eating gross or dangerous substances while they roam, such as cow poop or wild mushrooms.
The guard’s material is plastic to prevent as much heat as possible from staying within the guard, and black color of the mesh to keep sunlight from your dog’s eyes. Despite this we must issue a warning to dog owners- although the guard is built to keep out as much heat as possible, it cannot block all heat from entering, and owners should keep an eye out for behaviors that indicate overheating such as fast panting, drooling, and trouble walking or standing.
Product Care
Click photo for link to Foxtail Guard
When a foxtail or another nature nasty gets stuck in the guard, the product requires a couple easy steps of cleaning. Remove foxtails immediately from the guard when still adventuring, and remove the guard from your dog once you’re back in civilization.
Once you’re back home from your journey, carefully remove the foxtails and debris from the mesh, gently wash the guard in warm, soapy water, and hang to dry. Once dry, examine the guard for unusual-sized holes or damage and replace the guard if damage is substantial.
Remember, although the guard can effectively keep a lot of dangerous debris out, it is not a guarantee that your dog will not get foxtails. It is one tool of many that allows dogs to have a safer time outside, and should not replace foxtail checks, post-hike brushing, or any other effective means of removing foxtails.
The Foxtail Hound Guard can be a great tool for keeping your pup comfortable and safe on wilderness explorations! If you’re interested in more ways to keep your dog safe on hikes, check out our blog on Tick Sprays; “Helpful Hiking Tools: Tick Spray”.
To Conclude
If you are someone that loves to take your pup on hikes and outdoorsy adventures, but have either dealt with or are worried about Foxtails creeping their way into your dog’s skin or orifices, a Foxtail Guard can be an extremely beneficial tool. It is especially helpful for off-leash dogs who love to roam wide open spaces, and stick their faces in bushes and shrubbery. It can give you peace of mind that they are protected from these devilish weeds, as well as from the chance of your pup eating something gross or toxic. While this tool can be extremely helpful and effective, it is not perfect (nothing is). It is still up to us as responsible dog owners to always do a full-body and face check after an adventure to make sure they are clear from foxtails, ticks and pests, as well as debris. The sooner you find any of these dangerous clingers, the easier and safer it is to remove yourself, and the less likely that you will end up in the vet. We hope that this article has been informative and helpful, happy adventuring!
*This blog may contain affiliate links
Blog written by: Dog Tired Adventures Team
Co-Author & Editor: Jessica Hays
Lead Dog Walker, Social Media/Community Outreach Associate
Sources
https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/how-protect-your-dog-foxtails
https://www.noahsarkvet.com/11-symptoms-of-heat-exhaustion-in-dogs
