Cactus

I hunt a lot, some of it in real heavily Iinfested areas. All my dogs with the exception of one were running and playing around cactus before they were hunting. They get a few thorns but 5 minutes worth of attention to there feet and legs to check them over is all they require. The 1 dog I did not raise is another story. I spent 6 and half hours this weekend picking thorns out of his feet, his legs, and his body. He is a new dog to me and is not trash broke so I can not let him run and play around it cause he is a catch dog. With the exception of cattle and horses, if it runs it gets caught. Wish I had him when he was a pup.
I will be spending lots of one on one time with this dog with him on a long rope letting him pick his way though the cactus and learning how to travel in and around the stuff.

Check the bottoms of their feet real good between their pads.
Long thorns getting drove into their joints will cause swelling if unseen.
If they do get eat up in the stuff, pick out all you can see then rub your hands up and down their legs feeling for more. After that wet the hair down with a water hose and the remaining cactus will stick out while the hair is matted down by the water.
Small thick clusters of them little red stickers cause ugly sores if left in.

Uneducated bay dogs hunting in cactus for their first few times I wouldn't thing would be to horrible, it's when your dog's get on the hog that they will forget about the cactus. Catch dog catching a hog in a thick cactus carpeted area isn't fun either. Cd will get some stickers and you will too when you grab a hold of the back legs of the pig. Ouch!

Hopefully your area isn't as carpeted with the stuff as some of my stuff is.