Uinta Veterinary Services

06/11/2026

Hot Topic: Foxtails Are Here!

With the warmer weather and everything drying out, we're starting to see one of our least favorite summer problems: foxtails.

Foxtails are those dry, spiky grass seed heads that seem to get everywhere this time of year. While they may not look like much, they can cause some serious problems for our pets.

The tricky thing about foxtails is that once they attach to your pet, they don't usually fall off. Their barbed shape allows them to work their way deeper into the body, causing pain, infection, and sometimes even requiring sedation or surgery to remove.

We most commonly find foxtails in:
• Ears
• Noses
• Eyes
• Between the toes
• Under the skin

What should you watch for?

If a foxtail gets into the ear, you may notice sudden head shaking, scratching at the ear, or sensitivity when touching the head.

If one gets into the nose, pets will often have repeated sneezing fits, paw at their face, or even develop a bloody nose.

Foxtails in the eyes can cause squinting, redness, swelling, or excessive tearing.

When they become lodged in the paws or skin, you may notice limping, licking at the feet, swelling between the toes, or a sore that doesn't seem to heal.

The best thing you can do is check your pet often.

After walks, hikes, trips to the mountains, time in fields, or even just playing in overgrown yards, take a few minutes to look over your pet. Pay close attention to their paws, ears, eyes, armpits, and anywhere foxtails can get caught in the fur.

If you find a foxtail sitting loosely in the coat, go ahead and remove it. However, if you think one may be stuck in the skin, ear, nose, eye, or paw, please don't try to dig it out yourself. It's very easy for part of the foxtail to break off and remain behind.

The sooner we can see them, the easier they usually are to remove and the less damage they can cause.

If your pet is suddenly shaking their head, sneezing excessively, limping, or seems uncomfortable after being outdoors, give us a call at 435-722-9066.

A quick visit today can often prevent a much bigger problem tomorrow.

Stay safe and enjoy the summer!

06/08/2026

Meet Koda! Koda was highlighted in our May newsletter last month for such a pawsitive outcome during a routine check-up! This has become one of our favorite reminders of why routine wellness testing matters so much.

In October 2025, Koda came to Uinta Veterinary Services for a routine checkup and vaccinations. His physical exam looked completely normal, and he showed no obvious signs of illness. Because Koda’s owner is incredibly proactive about his health — and because Koda was entering his senior years — they elected to run a senior wellness panel that included a heartworm test.
That decision may have saved Koda’s life.
Koda’s heartworm test came back positive, which immediately prompted additional confirmatory testing by Dr. Tomaino. Those results confirmed an active heartworm infection. Thankfully, because the infection was caught early, treatment was able to begin right away — before the disease had caused serious damage to Koda’s body.
Heartworm treatment is a long and involved process, especially during the first several months, but Koda has done an amazing job throughout his treatment journey. We are happy to report that Koda is currently on track and testing heartworm negative!

Koda’s story is a wonderful example of why routine wellness screening and preventative care are so important. Many pets can appear perfectly healthy while hidden disease is developing behind the scenes. Catching issues early gives us the best chance to successfully treat them before they become life-threatening. Call us today to get your pets scheduled for their routine exam! (435)722-9066

06/03/2026

Check out last months newsletter!! Stay tuned for June's..... 👀

05/29/2026

05/22/2026

When you skip your annual exam...... for a few million years.😬

05/19/2026

Hello UVS Family!

Just a heads up, we will be closed Monday, May 25th for Memorial Day. We will be available for emergencies if needed. Just call the clinic at (435)722-9066 and leave a voicemail. The on-call Doctor will return your call. We have a few openings left for this week if needed! Give us call and we will get you scheduled before a long weekend!

05/11/2026

We LOVE our patients!! If you have ever wondered if your pets gets lonely with they are with us, don’t! There is no shortage of snuggles around here 🤗

05/11/2026

We LOVE our patients!! If you ever wonder if your pets get lonely with us, don’t! There is no shortage of snuggles around here. 🤗

05/08/2026

Happy Friday Friends!