Meadow Foxtail

Biological Name:

Meadow-Foxtail – Alopecurus pratensis

Natural Habitat:

The natural habitat of Meadow-Foxtail is likely grassy areas, such as fields and meadows, in a variety of geographic regions.

Description:

Meadow-foxtail is a type of grass that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Poaceae family which also includes plants such as wheat and corn. Meadow-foxtail is an annual or perennial plant that produces small green or brown flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas meadow-foxtail is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What happens when horses eat foxtail?
A: Horses that eat hay containing foxtails can develop significant ulceration of the mouth, tongue, or lips. These ulcers may appear relatively benign, but they are often quite painful. Signs of foxtail ulceration include an odor from the mouth, difficulty chewing, excessive salivation, and frothing of the mouth.
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Q: Is Fox tail grass good for hay?
A: Relatively small amounts of yellow foxtail in hay and pasture result in rapidly developing, extensive ulceration of the oral tissues of grazing animals, particularly those of horses.
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Q: How do you get rid of foxtails in hay field?
A: Killing foxtail Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that will kill foxtail as well as most all other plants (grasses and broad leaved). Spray the pasture with glyphosate (Round Up or Honcho, for example). Wait 7 to 10 days and disk the ground to turn under the dead plant residue.
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Q: Are cheat grass and foxtail the same?
A: Foxtails also go by the name wild barley, cheatgrass, needlegrass, bromegrass and spear grass. Foxtail weed is ubiquitous in the region and found in yards, sidewalks, parks, open fields and mountain trails — all the places people love to take their pets.
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Q: Are Meadow foxtails poisonous?
A: Toxic components pratensis contains sharp, barbed bristles or spines on the seed heads which can cause mechanical injury to horses upon consumption. Lesions are often seen in the mouth, and can cause pain and reluctance to eat. Deep ulcerations of the tongue, gums and cheeks may lead to abscesses.
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Q: How do I get rid of meadow foxtail?
A: If foxtail weed pops up in your lawn in summer, you can control it using Ortho® Weed B Gon® Plus Crabgrass Control Ready-to-Use or Roundup® For Lawns1 Ready-to-Use (for Northern grasses). When used as directed, it will kill actively growing foxtail without harming your lawn.
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Q: Are foxtails painful for dogs?
A: Foxtails and Your Dog: Risks and Symptoms Moving relentlessly forward, never back, they can migrate from inside your dog’s nose to its brain. They can dig through skin or be inhaled into — and then perforate — a lung. Embedded foxtails can cause discharge, abscesses, swelling, pain, and death.
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Q: Are foxtail plants poisonous to dogs?
A: The Deadly Plant You Need to Keep Your Dogs Away From Foxtail grass is a weed that can be highly toxic for your dog. The seeds of the plant are able to travel far and wide and lodge themselves inside your dog’s ears, nose, and eyes.
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Q: Will cows eat foxtail hay?
A: Foxtail and many other barley grasses have sharply-barbed awns that can cause sores at the nose, eyes, and mouth of livestock. Livestock can safely graze foxtail barley prior to seed development. Forage value of this grass is fair to good at this time.
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Q: How do I get rid of foxtails pet safe?
A: You can use a fine-toothed comb or a brush to remove foxtails from the fur. Check between the toes and paw pads as well as the ears — these are the places where foxtails most commonly lodge.
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Q: How do I get rid of foxtails pet friendly?
A: Make sure your vinegar is 5% acetic acid. Apply the vinegar as close to the roots as possible until it is thoroughly moist. Vinegar is most effective against new foxtail grass.
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Q: What is the purpose of foxtails?
A: A foxtail is a spikelet or cluster of a grass, that serves to disperse its seeds as a unit. Thus, the foxtail is a type of diaspore or plant dispersal unit.
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Q: How poisonous is foxtail?
A: In the worst case scenarios, an embedded foxtail can make it to vital organs, including the lungs, spinal cord or brain, heart, and abdominal organs, causing symptoms specific to that organ. In very bad cases, surgery may be required to remove foxtails or treat infection resulting from embedded foxtails.
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Q: Is foxtail poisonous to dogs?
A: Foxtails and Your Dog: Risks and Symptoms They can dig through skin or be inhaled into — and then perforate — a lung. Embedded foxtails can cause discharge, abscesses, swelling, pain, and death. If your dog is displaying any of the following symptoms, check for foxtails or talk to your vet: Feet.
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Q: Are foxtails painful?
A: Foxtails embedded in or under the skin cause swelling, pain, redness, and drainage of clear or bloody fluid from the site. Pets often lick the affected area of skin, and hair loss may occur. Limping is common if a foxtail is embedded in the foot.
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Q: What animals eat foxtail?
A: (Foxtail grasses) is eaten occasionally by various mammalian herbivores, including livestock, rabbits, and voles. However, the bristly seedheads of mature plants can damage the mouthparts of horses and cattle. The seeds are eaten by the Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel and many kinds of birds.
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Q: Are foxtails poisonous to humans?
A: This unique structure of the grass awn allows it to easily move forward in only one direction when handled. When inhaled into the body, grass awns can cause serious health problems.
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Q: What happens if a dog sniffs a foxtail?
A: Foxtails often enter the nostrils while dogs sniff around outside. Air flow through the nostrils can cause the foxtail to travel through the nasal passages, causing pain and possible infection. Sneezing, bloody discharge, and pawing at the nose may be a sign that your dog has inhaled a foxtail.
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Q: What if a dog eats a foxtail?
A: Foxtails embedded in the dog’s or cat’s mouth and throat will cause a retching cough, gagging, salivation and possibly compulsive grass eating. If your pet stretches his neck to swallow, get immediate medical advice.
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Q: Can a dog survive with a foxtail?
A: Foxtail plants are a weed-type grass that can cause serious problems for dogs. Flourishing in the summer months, the seeds from these annoying weeds are designed to burrow into the ground. If they attach to your pet’s coat and burrow into the skin, this can lead to pain, infection, and sometimes more serious issues.
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Q: Can you pull out foxtails?
A: Most foxtails that are stuck in your dog’s fur (and not embedded in their skin) can be removed easily with just your hands. If you find a foxtail that has slightly embedded itself somewhere, you can use tweezers to try and remove it.
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Q: Do cows eat foxtails?
A: Foxtail and many other barley grasses have sharply-barbed awns that can cause sores at the nose, eyes, and mouth of livestock. Livestock can safely graze foxtail barley prior to seed development. Forage value of this grass is fair to good at this time.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.