Foxtail Plants: Summer’s Stealthy Danger to Dogs

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Summer is on the way, which means foxtail (plant awn) season depending on where you live and travel with canine family members
• Foxtails are so dangerous because they can quickly make their way into your dog’s body through virtually any orifice, including the nose, eyes, ears and mouth; they can also puncture the skin; if foxtails get inside your dog’s body, they can create abscesses, damage tissue, cause infection, and worse
• If you take your dog to outdoor locations where plant awns grow, it’s crucial that you check her from nose to tail several times a day, and remove any foxtails in her coat or between her toes
• If you know or suspect a foxtail has invaded your dog’s nose or throat or ear, or you see an oozing sore or draining tract, get her to a veterinarian or emergency animal clinic right away