Foxtails: The Grass Seed That Burrows Into Dogs

Why foxtails are different

Foxtail seed awns are barbed like tiny harpoons: they move forward through fur, skin and tissue but never back out. They lodge in paws, ears, eyes, noses and throats — and untreated can migrate deep into the body.

Telltale signs

Sudden violent sneezing after a walk (nose), head shaking and ear pawing (ear), squinting and tearing (eye), or a limp with relentless licking of one spot between the toes (paw). A swelling that pops and drains between the toes is classic.

The after-walk ritual

In foxtail season (late spring through fall in dry western states), check after every walk: between every toe, inside ears, armpits, groin, and around the eyes. Long-haired dogs benefit from trimmed feet; some owners use field 'foxtail hoods'.

Don't wait on these

A foxtail rarely resolves on its own. Sneezing fits, squinting eyes and draining paw tracts all deserve a vet visit promptly — removal is quick when it's shallow and surgical when it's not.