A dog owner has issued a serious warning to other pet owners to be on the lookout for a plant that can be dangerous to your four-legged friends this summer. The TikTok user, @karmabertelsen, described her experience with foxtail - a weed-type grass that flourishes in the summer months.
In the video, the dog owner said: "It's foxtail and grass seed season, and I found out the hard way that these pesky things - which are growing everywhere at the moment, especially in tall grass - are really dangerous for your dogs.
"They can get stuck in ear canals, nose canals and between toes, and if untreated, can cause lots of damage. Finn got one of these stuck in his ear canal yesterday and it dug itself deep, he was howling in so much pain and discomfort.
"So, I took him to the vet and he had to be sedated while they removed it, and he bled quite a lot.
"He's feeling much better now, but the vet bills did set me back £420, so my advice is to be careful on walks and avoid tall grass for the moment."
What is a foxtail?
A foxtail is a small weed-type grass that is designed to burrow into the ground and grow. According to PetMD, foxtail can attach to your pet's fur and burrow into their skin.
If they do, it can lead to pain, infection, and sometimes more serious issues. Foxtails can also be inhaled, lodged in the ears, swallowed, and embedded in the paws.
Symptoms
Some signs you can look out for in your pet include:
Head shaking
Limping
Pawing at the face
Snorting
Sneezing
Bloody nose
Excessive licking of an area on the body
Other signs can show up one to several days later. These may include:
Lumps
Bumps
Draining tracts
Areas of redness or tenderness
Inflammation
Lethargy
Depression
Decreased appetite
For more information on the foxtail plant, and the danger it poses to pets, visit the PetMD website here.
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