Grass seeds and your pet a.ka. the foxtail

​While living in Sonoma County offers a beautiful lifestyle, the local environment presents certain risks for your pets. Grass seeds are abundant here and frequently become embedded in a pet's toes, skin, ears, and nose.

Common varieties to watch for include:

Foxtail Grass: The most frequent culprit, featuring spiky, arrow-shaped seed heads that easily lodge in a dog's body.
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum):A native grass with particularly sharp seeds.
- Other Grass Seeds: Seeds from wheatgrass or certain pasture grasses can also be hazardous, especially if treated with toxic chemicals.

Additionally, Erodium cicutarium, commonly known as redstem filaree or stork's-bill. s a significant concern. This plant features fern-like leaves and violet flowers, producing a long, green seed pod resembling a stork's bill. When these pods dry and burst, the seeds attach to a spiral that can easily catch in your pet's coat and become painfully embedded in the skin.

Please stay vigilant and check your pets regularly after they have been outdoors.

how will i know?

To determine if your pet has a seed embedded in their skin, look for signs such as sneezing, head shaking, licking, chewing, or limping.

Since dogs rarely groom themselves excessively, any focused licking or chewing in a specific area may indicate a seed is trying to burrow into the skin. In some cases, you may be able to safely remove the seed yourself.​

When to call the vet

If you notice symptoms such as swelling, redness, excessive sneezing, or repeated head shaking, please take your pet to the vet immediately. Ideally, the vet will be able to extract the seed easily without the need for surgery.

It is important not to ignore these symptoms. If left untreated, the seed can burrow further into the body, requiring surgical intervention. In severe cases, a seed entering the bloodstream can be fatal.

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