Foxtail Barley: A Threat to Your Dog

Foxtail barley is a short perennial grass from 30 to 60 cm tall that grows in dense clumps or tufts. The species has an extensive root system that is fibrous and lacks rhizomes. Rhizomes are horizontal underground stems that store carbohydrates and send up new grass plants or tillers, which are above-ground stems. Each tiller has an inflorescence or flower with many awns or bristles giving the plant its distinctive appearance. The colour of the plant ranges from green with purplish awns when flowering to light brown when seeds have matured later in the summer and autumn.

The awns are capable of invading the body of your dog through the mouth, anus, feet ears, or through any point on the body surface. Once the awns penetrate the skin they move in one direction because of the orientation of minute barbs attached to each larger bristle (e.g., similar to the barbs on the larger quills of a porcupine). Awns can travel throughout the body in the blood. The awns are capable of killing your dog and as some autopsies reveal, the awns may accumulate in the heart. Awns can also penetrate the ears and become embedded in the eardrum. Similarly, awns can enter through the nose and become lodged in the nasal passageway. Awns entering through the mouth can become lodged in the lungs, spinal cord and/or chest cavity. Secondary effects from infections are also a problem. Partially penetrated awns that are visible should be removed immediately, preferably by a trained professional. You should contact your veterinarian for a list of possible symptoms and treatment methods.

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Outdoor Ferrets

I’ve Googled and I’ve contemplated and I finally came to a decision.

I ordered an outdoor setup for my two ferrets, Akai and Domino.  It consists of a hutch, which has a nesting box and an open area next to the box, as well as a run underneath.  I also got the extended run, so they will have more room.  I will modify the setup slightly by adding a cover for the top of the run.

The setup will be on my deck in a small cubby-area.  I will put flat boarding up on the deck bars, so the enclosure will be blocked from wind on three sides  (two are deck, one is the house).  This will also prevent people from the street seeing the setup, beyond a bit of the hutch’s top.  The bottom of the run will be the exposed deck.

Now, I’ve read plenty of controversy on housing ferrets outdoors.  I know that in the UK and parts of Australia, this is much more common.  The US, particularly Iowa, has colder winters than both, although Australian summers can get a bit above us.  I did find one person, a Canadian, that commented on a forum about keeping their ferrets outside year-round.

Gathering this information, I feel confident in ignoring the nay-sayers.  I understand that in the winter, a properly insulated nest box is necessary.  I understand that in the summer, plenty of water and shade is necessary to keep cool.  I would also like to create a soil dig box and use straw in the nest box.

I will monitor the ferrets strictly as the spring turns to summer, and as the fall turns to winter.  I want to get them outside soon (spring) so they can adjust to the rising temperature and later falling temperature naturally.

I will update with photos and information as time goes on.  I am determined to debunk that it’s unsafe to house them outside.