How do I check for grass seeds or foxtails in my dog's paws?

Foxtail and similar barbed grass seeds are shaped to move in only one direction once they catch on fur or skin, which means they can burrow steadily deeper with every step your dog takes rather than falling back out the way they went in.

Spread the toes wide and run a finger through the fur between them, feeling for anything small, hard, and pointed rather than relying on sight alone, since seeds often blend into fur of a similar tan or golden color. Check the edges of the pads and any longer fur around the paw at the same time.

A seed still sitting loosely on the surface of the fur can usually be picked off safely with your fingers. One that has already worked into the skin, leaving a small red or swollen entry point, needs a vet to remove it properly rather than attempting to dig it out yourself.

Grass seeds are at their sharpest and most likely to detach and embed during the late spring and summer months when grasses dry out and go to seed, so stepping up the frequency and thoroughness of paw checks during this stretch of the year catches problems that a quick glance might miss during lower risk seasons.

Checking the fur around the ears and under the armpits for the same type of seed is also worthwhile after a walk through seed heavy grass, since these seeds can just as easily catch in these areas as between the toes.