[CorkyMax]

[B]If your dog or cat gets a foxtail embedded in his ears, nose, or eyes, take him to the vet immediately to remove the prickly invader before it causes serious complications! Remove foxtails and any slivers from your pet immediately. Foxtails swiftly puncture skin and travel through a pet's body, harming tissues and possibly even organs, or they lodge in the nose or ears, potentially producing a painful abscess. Read this link: Foxtails (A WEED) Can be Deadly to Your Dog! Another link on this foxtail problem: after foxtail removal question... And check your pet to make sure burrs have not lodged between toes, in the armpits, or in crevices around the private parts.

1. Crushing the burrs with a pair of pliers (without pinching your pet's skin!) makes the burrs easier to comb out.

2. To remove burrs from the fur--wear work gloves to avoid getting pricked by the burrs. Work a dab of all-vegetable oil or baby oil into the affected areas (or into the hair surrounding the burrs), and then pry the burrs loose. Shampoo your pet to remove the shortening or oil, rinse clean, and towel dry.

3. Saturate the area with corn oil, wait a few mins. and then comb or brush out the burr. Can do the same with baby shampoo too. When accomplished--Shampoo the pet to rid of the oil or shampoo.

4. Coat the stubborn sticker or burr with Vaseline petroleum jelly, then use a comb or brush to pry the prickly invader loose. Shampoo the spot to wash out the jelly.

5. For a less messy way to remove burrs from an animal's coat, put on a pair of work gloves, rub corn starch into the dry coat, and pluck the burrs free (Try crushing with the pliers first to help a little better). Then brush out the cornstarch which doubles as a dry shampoo.

6. If all else fails, use a pair of scissors (BUT BE CAREFUL HERE!!) to carefully clip the burr(s) out of your pet's hair. (This is the method I am forced to use on my cocker spaniel whose coat gets as thick as sheep's wool when it gets matted!)[B]