A veterinary nurse has shared photos online after a friend's dog was left needing treatment after getting covered in 'painful' plant burs.
Rachel Bean, highlighted the extreme case on Facebook to warn other pet owner's of the damaging affect of the plant.
The pirri-pirri-bur originated in Australia and New Zealand but can be found in UK grassy areas and woods.
Available to buy from garden centres, the invasive plant leads to the loss of other native plants where it grows and can also affect dogs, especially those with long fur, Edinburgh Live reports.
These flowers turn red in late spring and ripen into barbed fruits, called burs which then turn brown during the summer. It is these burs - which can hook onto fur and clothes - that cause problems.
Dog Charlie had to be taken to the vets to be sedated and have all the burs removed, by shaving off his fur.
In the post, Rachel said: "A friend's dog had an encounter with a plant called pirri-pirri-bur from New Zealand.
"It seems to be very prevalent in some areas of UK too, lots written about it in Northumberland, Farne Islands etc, but no doubt elsewhere too.
"Charlie had to have a trip to the vets to have sedation and all the painful burrs removed by shaving him."
Another owner shared a photo of her own dog, which had been left with the burs all over its body. She said: "My smudge did the same last week, took my mum and I two hours to get them all out!"
Elsewhere, another said: "What a horrible thing to happen. Will keep my eyes open for this plant!"
