Every summer, dogs across Central Oregon come into the clinic with a problem their owners never saw coming. The culprit is usually something smaller than a fingernail — a foxtail or a cheatgrass awn.

These two invasive grasses are among the most serious warm-weather hazards we treat, and they grow abundantly throughout the high desert — along roadsides, trailheads, open fields, and even in neighborhoods. They're easy to overlook. But for dogs (and occasionally cats), the window between "no big deal" and "emergency" can close faster than most pet owners realize.