05/21/2026
Be aware of foxtails 🌾 while out and about with your dogs! Foxtails have barbed razor-sharp needles that are dangerous to your dog. Foxtails are commonly found in tall grasses that are off the main walkways or hiking paths. Avoid letting your dog run through open fields of tall grass and keep them on a leash to help them avoid areas where foxtails grow. Here is a photo of the foxtail plant as well as foxtail we found during a recent so you know what to look out for to keep your furry friends safe.
If you are exposed, thoroughly inspect the hot spots (ears, nose, eyes, underbelly, between toe pads).
Did you know?
- Foxtails can go up the nose and migrate to the brain
- Embedded foxtails can cause pain and even death in extreme cases
- Pets with long fur and long ears are especially prone to getting foxtails
- Foxtails move in one direction. They dig in, and they do not come out on their own
- Foxtails love paws and can easily embed between toes
- Foxtails can dig into any part of the body, and they don't dissolve
- Foxtail pieces can easily be inhaled and puncture a lung
