Spear grass is a menace to people and their pets.
And it's everywhere in the Okanagan and BC right now -- in the wild, along roadways, vacant lots and unkept lawns.
The seeded barbs of aptly-named spear grass effortlessly adhere to the clothing and skin of humans and the fur of dogs and cats.
People feel it and can pick the barb off before it becomes a problem.
But, for pets, the barbs are quickly hidden by fur and quickly penetrate the skin as the dog or cat moves.
Minutes or hours later, your pet is viciously shaking its head, pawing at their ears, walking around erratically with their head askew, licking and chewing at the irritated area and whining non-stop.
"Every year at this time we see a lot of spear grass cases. It's very common," said Dr. Ellen Nicklassen of Kelowna Veterinary Hospital.
"It's nasty, nasty stuff. The odd dog will hold still so I can use the long, skinny alligator forceps to pull out the barb. But, generally sedation is needed because the dog just won't let me near it otherwise."
Cost for the consultation, sedation and treatment runs about $250.
Sometimes antibiotics are needed if the spear grass isn't caught soon enough and an infection or abscess has started.
In rare cases, the barb or barbs can travel through the body into the lungs or heart and be fatal.
"Spear grass barbs are so painful to dogs that they'll let you know something is wrong and you can get it treated," said Dr. Nicklassen.
"I've seen the barbs everywhere -- mostly commonly ears and between toes, but also in eyes, the nose, the belly and even in the penis and vulva."
My bichon frise-cross dog, Benji, somehow got into some spear grass on the weekend and we ended up rushing to Kelowna Veterinary Hospital for treatment.
Benji let me know he was in distress with those classic symptoms listed above -- ferociously shaking his head, walking around with a lopsided head and not letting me get anywhere near his head, which is where the barb was insidiously working its way to his ear canal.
Dr. Nicklassen took care of it quickly and efficiently.
She said be vigilant when you're out with your dog to avoid spear grass.
The one-to-two-foot-high grass is now dried out and the barbed seed heads easily comes off to catch on whatever passes by.
Check your dog for any barbs when you come back from an outing.
Keep your dog's coat short so you can easily see barbs and pull them off.
Spear grass -- the catch-all term for needle grass, foxtail grass, silver spike grass and porcupine grass -- actually looks quite attractive when it's growing and green and swaying in the breeze.
But then it dries out and it's a hazard from June through September.
Beware.
