It’s another week and well into plant season, here is today’s plant your horse can’t eat. Today’s plant grows all over and looks very unassuming, but while Foxtails are a common sight, they are incredibly dangerous little buggers!
A Little About Foxtail
Hordeum jubatum is also called Foxtail. This is a perennial grass that grows up to 2 feet tall. Leaf blades are one to six inches in length and seeds are bristly, open awns around 3 inches long.
How Dangerous Is It?
This plant is a high concern in areas where it grows, they are abundant and highly problematic. The seed awns have small barbs and easily stick to fur and skin where they start to bury themselves.
From the extremities barbs can work their way into the bloodstream and subsequently the heart. From the face and neck they can become lodged in ears, nose and lungs.
The seed awns of this plant are barbed and can be fatal to equines.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Foxtail toxicity symptoms will vary depending on where on the body an awn was picked up. Any strange or painful behavior should be investigated.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Foxtail page to learn more about the plant and while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?
*It should be noted that I’m not a veterinarian. This information is written specifically for horses and should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.