Vet issues urgent warning about a common plant that could kill your dog and urges owners to be vigilant

A vet has issued an urgent warning to dog owners over a plant that commonly grows in green areas in the UK.

According to experts, the seeds of the plants, in particular, can cause canines to develop a deadly infection if consumed or inhaled.

Foxtail plants — scientific name Alopecurus — are part of the grass family and can cause serious problems if dogs come into contact with them.

The encounter can result in death if the seeds manage to become entangled by the ears, legs, and skin.

Chief Veterinarian Sean McCormack shared The sun that dog owners should be especially vigilant during the summer months where the plant is easy to spot.

Foxtail plants can grow up to a meter in height, with furry buds shaped like a fox’s tail that sprout pointy clusters of seeds.

Owners are urged to keep their eyes peeled, as the plants can grow in communal walking areas and green spaces, such as meadows, trails, and marshes.

The deadly weed can even stretch so far as to grow along roadsides and adjacent hedgerows.

Sean, describing foxtail’s effect on dogs, said, “The spiky hairs that sit on top of the stems are actually incredibly sharp and it can pierce or scratch their skin or become embedded in their paws.”

The vet explained that if the seeds get stuck between a dog’s claws, toes or between the sole of the foot and the skin, it can lead to intense pain.

Some breeds with droopy ears or longer, thicker coats are more at risk because their fur essentially acts as Velcro.

If the seeds are consumed, a deadly infection can quickly develop.

Some of the main symptoms that dog owners should be aware of are: painful nodules, swelling in the paws and lethargic seizures.

Some dogs may also experience a lack of appetite as swallowed foxtail can cause pain in their organs.

Veterinarians advise owners not to walk through long grassy areas during outings with their pets and to always be on the lookout for the poisonous plant.

If your dog happens to come into contact with foxtail or its seeds, it is advisable – as with tick removal – to use tweezers and remove any remnants of the plant stuck in the fur.

If an infection does occur, it is important to take your dog to the local vet immediately for assessment and further treatment.

Another creation of nature has also proven – in the first ever confirmed case of its kind – to be deadly to dogs that come into close contact with it.

In July, a dog died in less than 45 minutes after being poisoned by blue-green algae in a lake in Worcestershire.

Jan Egginton lost her beloved two-year-old flat-coated retriever, Cove, on the side of Wimbleball Lake in Exmoor after coming into contact with the deadly substance.