A Summertime Threat You Might Not See, but Your Pet Will Feel: Foxtail Cases Spike 458% in Summer

It may look like a harmless bit of grass but foxtail can cause serious problems for cats and dogs – especially in summer.

Our team of Trupanion veterinarians and data-scientists found that foxtail claims spike by as much as 289% in the U.S. and 458% in Canada during June, July and August.

“Foxtail seeds have sharp, backward-facing barbs that can easily penetrate the eyes, ear canals, nose and skin of pets,” says Trupanion Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Nold, DVM.

Even worse, once embedded the barbs can migrate deeper into tissues. Ultimately, triggering painful infections or serious internal injuries.

Key findings among Trupanion pets

• Claims spike by 289% in the U.S. and 458% in Canada during summer
• 75% of all foxtail-related claims in Utah happen during summer
• Dogs with longer, denser fur like Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, English Springer Spaniels and Newfoundlands are the dog breeds with the most foxtail-related claims

Foxtail in dogs and cats

Foxtails are spiky, barbed grasses that resemble the tail of a fox. Found all over the U.S. and Canada, foxtail barbs can latch onto a pet’s fur or even be inhaled.

Since 2020, Trupanion has received more than 5,800 foxtail-related claims. Foxtail-related health issues can and do happen year-round, however, a majority of incidents happen during the summer months. In Utah for example, 75% of all foxtail claims happen during June, July and August.

Dog breeds with the most foxtail-related claims

• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
• English Spring Spaniel
• Newfoundland
• German Pointer
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenees)
• West Highland White Terrier
• Aussiedoodle
• Doberman Pinscher
• Poodle

Many breeds in the list above have longer, dense fur that can be wavy or curly. This type of coat is prone to trapping foxtails and other debris, making it important for pet parents to be extra vigilant when checking for foreign objects in their pets' fur after outdoor activities.

How to keep your pet safe from foxtail

The best way to keep your pet safe from foxtail is to prevent contact with the grass in the first place.

“Avoid areas with high foxtail growth whenever possible, otherwise using protective gear like dog booties can help.” says Dr. Nold. “Groom your pets regularly during the summer and be diligent about inspecting common areas where foxtails like to hide, such as the fur that grows between their toes.”

Signs of foxtail contact:

• Excessive scratching or pawing
• Head shaking or ear scratching
• Redness or swelling
• Discharge or bleeding
• Limping or favoring a limb

Signs of foxtail-related infection:

• Redness and swelling
• Discharge or pus
• Fever
• Limping or reluctance to move
• Loss of appetite or vomiting

Foxtail treatment for dogs and cats

If foxtail isn’t removed, it can move deeper into a pet’s body, causing pain, infection and even punctured organs. Left untreated, this can lead to severe health issues like chronic infections, tissue damage and life-threatening injuries. That’s why veterinary care is essential to treating foxtail-related injuries.

Veterinarians will typically use imaging techniques, like X-rays or ultrasounds, to locate the foxtail and determine its depth. Once identified, they may surgically remove the seed and treat any infections with antibiotics to prevent further complications. Trupanion found the average claim amount for a foxtail injury was approximately $470.

Learn more about how to protect your pet.

On rare occasions, a pet may inhale foxtail, causing damage to the respiratory system, especially if lodged in the nose or throat. In these cases, veterinary treatment typically involves sedation or anesthesia to ensure the pet remains calm and still. The veterinarian will use specialized tools, such as a bronchoscope, to locate and remove the foxtail from the airways, followed by antibiotics to prevent infection and possibly anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling. Trupanion has paid as much as $17,536 for a foxtail-related claim.

Methodology

For this study Trupanion looked at "Foreign body, grass seed” claims made by Trupanion members between 2020 - 2025. All percentage and comparison data were normalized by the size of our book of business.

About truInsights

The data presented in this report is part of Trupanion’s truInsights initiative. truInsights is a data focused initiative introduced by Trupanion and designed to deliver valuable health-related data and insights to pet parents, veterinarians and pet lovers alike. With over 20 years of pet health data, Trupanion has explored its veterinary invoice data from more than two million pets and provides details on data trends, as well as prevention tips for keeping our pets safe.

About Trupanion

Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, and certain countries in Continental Europe with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. For more information, please visit Trupanion.com.