Foxtail barley can be dangerous for dogs, warns City of Lethbridge

“These can become extremely dangerous to dogs and other animals as they can get lodged in the skin, mouth, nose and eyes. If a dog digests these barbed seed heads, they can cause serious illness or even death,” reads a media release from the municipality.

Some ways that you can protect your pet include:

Avoiding areas where Foxtail and other weeds are growing
If you must go in these areas, keep your dog on a leash at all times
Trim the hair between your dog’s toes, around ears and their belly
Check their coat for Foxtail and brush your dog after being outdoor
Use a netted muzzle

Foxtail can be identified by its tufted head resembling the tail of a fox. It can grow in all soil types and moisture levels, and is adapted to dry, alkaline soil.

Through the Alberta’s Weed Control Act, Alberta Weed Regulation and the City’s Weed Control Bylaw, certain plants have been identified as noxious weeds. In Alberta, Foxtail is not designated by legislation as a noxious weed however, significant efforts are made to control the growth of Foxtail in City parks. Some of these strategies include:

Increased irrigation in troubles areas: this helps increase the growth of grass and choke out the Foxtail that thrive in dry, hot conditions
Chemical treatments
Manual weed pulls
Mowing and bagging

Since May 1, 2024, the City has received 15 service requests related to foxtail. If you identify a foxtail infestation in a city park, phone 311.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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by David Opinko

Foxtail barley can be dangerous for dogs, warns City of Lethbridge

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