The other day, we encountered an emergency surgical intervention for our dog Brutt.
Our dogs spend a lot of time in nature. Both during training and during free walks. Brutt began to limp. After examining the paw, limping and licking it, he was taken to the vet for an examination. The inspection confirmed our suspicion. Foxtail.
Dog owners know how dangerous this plant is for our pets, but we’ll say it again…
Foxtail (Hordeum murinum), also known as mouse (false) barley, is an annual plant from the grass family up to 40 cm tall, recognizable by its characteristic spike. It occurs on land that has been altered by man – most often near human settlements, on uncultivated meadows, roadsides, ruins, rockeries, etc.
The sharp ears with the needles of the foxtail are designed so that they can be easily hooked and stick as deeply as possible into the fur, openings and folds in the skin of the animal that is passing through the green area. The angle at which the needles are placed prevents them from falling out or being easily removed.
Foxtail, thanks to its structure, can be easily attached to the hair or skin of the dog. Foxtail is most often attached to one of the following regions:
Paws
The skin
Oral cavity
Genital Organs
Ears
Eyes
If the foxtail gets caught in the fur, you can easily remove it if you notice it right away. We advise you to immediately remove the foxtail from the dog’s fur, and solve potential complications.
In the event that thefoxtail is already stuck in the paw, nasal cavity, ear of the dog or another inaccessible region – we advise you to leave the removal to a veterinarian. So we had to…