The other evening, I was hanging out with a friend at her place and noticed that her normally super active dog, Louie, seemed unlike himself. My friend explained that poor Louie had just come back from the vet after having a foxtail removed from his ear. It had embedded so deeply that it was close to rupturing his eardrum. They needed to sedate him to remove it, and he was still feeling the effects of the sedation. And my friend was still feeling the effects of the $400 vet bill.

This seemingly innocuous plant that grows in fields, parks and even backyard lawns can be a serious hazard to dogs. Foxtails pose significant dangers, causing pain, injury and even life-threatening conditions.

What makes foxtails dangerous is their design. They have seed awns with a sharp, pointed shape, resembling the tail of a fox, hence the name. The barbed seeds are designed to burrow into the ground for propagation but can inadvertently attach to a passing animal, including dogs.

The danger lies in the foxtail’s ability to penetrate the skin, ears, eyes, nose and mouth of dogs. According to the University of California at Davis Veterinary Hospital, “If not discovered quickly, the foxtail can burrow its way toward vital organs and vessels, causing irreparable harm.”

Identifying foxtail-related issues can be tough, as symptoms vary depending on the location of the foxtail and the dog’s reaction. Common signs include persistent sneezing, pawing at their ears or eyes, shaking of the head, coughing, signs of discomfort while eating or drinking, or redness and swelling in a certain spot. In severe cases, abscesses or draining tracts may develop, indicating a deeper infection. A couple summers ago, my own dog, Bowie, kept gnawing on his paw, and sure enough, there was a foxtail embedded between two of his toes. Fortunately, the vet was able to remove it fairly easily.

Preventing foxtail-related injuries requires vigilance and proactive measures. Regularly inspecting your dog’s coat, especially after walks and hikes, can help detect and remove foxtails before they cause harm. Keeping grassy areas well-maintained, avoiding overgrown areas during walks and using protective gear, such as breathable mesh hoods, can help. While they look a bit funny, I’m glad to see more and more people outfitting their dogs with these hoods when they’re on hiking trails.

If you suspect your dog is exhibiting symptoms of foxtail-related issues, immediate veterinary care is essential. Delayed treatment can exacerbate the situation, leading to more severe complications and pain for your pet. Veterinarians can safely remove foxtails and provide necessary treatment to prevent infections or other complications.

Let’s remember to pay attention to our dogs when we’re out walking with them, especially on hikes— for a variety of reasons. We can’t fault them for their curiosity, but we can protect these precious members of our family if we keep our eyes off our phones and on them instead.

Lisa Bloch is the marketing and communications director for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin. Visit marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane.org, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.