A concerned Beaumont-Wilshire dog owner requested BWNA inform readers of a serious health threat to our dogs: foxtail plants in the neighborhood. According to PetMD.com, foxtail, an annual summer grass shaped like the tail of a fox, has a tip with seeds arranged in spiky clusters with backward-facing barbs. The spikes and barbs allow for one-way burrowing, causing pain, infection, and sometimes more serious issues.
So, avoid them when walking your dog, and please remove them if you have them in your yard or garden. There are myriad internet sites to help in plant identification and information on how to remove a foxtail barb from your pet. For starters, visit petmd.com/dog/care/how-protect-your-dog-foxtails.