 kind of a poker on one end kind of a feather on the other side so it can only advance one direction and when it advances it can't back up that's why veterinarian john mccormick of hunter animal hospital in utah says once a foxtail c gets stuck in a pet's eye or foot or wherever it lands it's got to be taken out surgically if you notice a wound a puncture wound in your dog's toes and you know they're painful about it then that's when we have to get involved