Foxtail Warning

PSA: Foxtail seeds can be FATAL to your pets! 

Once the plant goes to seed, pets can step on, brush by, or inhale their sharp tips – once stepped on, the barb-shaped seeds hook into your pet’s skin. 

The sharp seeds can work their way into any part of your pet’s body, including their nose, eyes, ears, and mouth, causing serious damage. Because of their pointy shape, they can EMBED themselves inside your pet’s body and can lead to serious infection once inside your dog’s body because they don’t break down. Embedded foxtails can cause discharge, abscesses, swelling, pain, amputation, and even death.

Please watch for this plant in your yards, alleys, and REMOVE them! If they have already gone to seed, place a bag over the plant before you pull them up to keep the seeds from dispersing into the air.

Be aware of taking your pets into areas with tall grasses and watch for these symptoms:
Paws – Swelling, limping, continual licking
Ears – Shaking their head, tilting head to the side, nonstop scratching
Oral – Coughing, gagging, swelling, lump in neck
Body – Swelling, scratching