1. FOXTAIL BARLEY, SQUIRRELTAIL BARLEY, WILD BARLEY

Hordeum jubatum

(grass family)

TOXICITY RATING: Moderate. Irritation from the awns is likely, but serious illness and death are rare.

ANIMALS AFFECTED: All animals can be affected. Grazing animals and outdoor dogs are especially at risk.

DANGEROUS PARTS OF PLANT: Seedheads (awns).

CLASS OF SIGNS: Skin, mouth, ear, nose, and eye irritation; stomach irritation, abscesses.

PLANT DESCRIPTION: This perennial weedy grass (fig. 1) of fields, waste places, and roadsides gets its name from the long bushy flower spikes. Each long, slender, wiry bristle bears small teeth or barbs that point backwards like tiny fishhooks.

SIGNS: The seed heads (especially the awns) of this and several other types of grasses can cause mechanical irritation to the skin, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and stomach of animals. The grasses can cause problems in pasture as well as in prepared feeds like hay. Embedded seed heads can cause local irritation and infections, or become more deeply embedded in tissues and migrate in the body. Irritation and infection often develop, necessitating removal of the plant matter. Signs depend on location of the seed awn, and can include head shaking; sneezing; nasal or ocular discharge; rubbing at the ears, eyes, or mouth; difficulty in chewing or swallowing; or signs of digestive disturbance. Yellow or green foxtail, rye and millet can cause similar problems.

FIRST AID: For minor irritation, supportive care is all that is required. Minor irritations will resolve in about a day. If any of the following are noted, a veterinarian needs to be contacted: if signs are severe, if signs of irritation do not resolve, if the eyes or ears are involved, or if the animal cannot eat. Infections and abscesses require veterinary care, and some awns may need surgical removal.

SAFETY IN PREPARED FEEDS: Small amounts incorporated in hay and other feeds may not cause much harm, most animals will avoid eating these plants if better quality feed is available (good hay and feeds do not contain many seed heads of these grasses). Hay and other feeds containing large quantities of these seed heads are not safe for consumption, especially if animals are forced to eat these feeds.

PREVENTION: These plants are common weeds in pastures and along roadsides. If problems occur with these plants, consider mowing to reduce seedhead formation or otherwise removing them. The foxtail that commonly grows in the western U.S. (Setaria) is especially problematic and animals should have little or no contact with this grass.