Barbed grass seeds readily catch in fur and can push into the skin as a dog moves. In Australia, they are a frequent problem from spring into summer, especially after walks through dry or seeding grass.
Signs in a paw
- Sudden, persistent licking or chewing of one foot
- Limping or reluctance to place weight on the paw
- Redness or swelling between the toes
- A small puncture, moist sore or draining lump
- Pain when the paw is touched
A seed may also enter an ear, nose, eye or coat. Head shaking and ear pain can indicate an ear seed; violent sneezing may follow a nasal seed; squinting or a weeping eye requires urgent assessment.
What you can safely do
If a loose seed is sitting visibly on the coat and has not entered the skin, gently remove it. Once a seed appears embedded, do not squeeze, cut or dig into the paw. Barbs can drive it deeper, and the visible opening may not show where the seed has travelled.
Stop your dog licking, limit activity and arrange a veterinary examination. Sedation and imaging may sometimes be needed to locate and remove a migrated seed. Delays can lead to infection, abscesses and a longer search.
Prevention after every walk
- Avoid dry, seeding grass where practical.
- Check between toes, under the armpits, around the groin and inside ear flaps.
- Brush the coat and remove plant material immediately.
- Keep long hair around feet and ears neatly groomed.
- Seek care when licking or sneezing continues after the walk.
A quick check when you get home
Before your dog settles on the sofa, check one foot at a time in good light. Gently separate the toes, look around the pads and inspect longer hair around the feet. Then check the coat, armpits, groin and outer ear flaps. Remove only loose plant material that lifts away easily. Stop if the dog resists or seems sore.
Do not put tweezers into an ear canal, under an eyelid or into a puncture. Those areas need proper examination and instruments. A tiny skin opening can hide a deeper problem.
Prepare for the veterinary visit
Explain where your dog walked, when the licking or head-shaking began and whether you removed any loose seeds. Take a photograph of the sore area if it changes before the appointment. Ask the clinic whether food needs to be withheld in case sedation is necessary; do not guess a fasting period, particularly for puppies or dogs with medical conditions.
Why the vet may need more than a quick look
A seed can move away from its original entry point. It may not be visible on an ordinary X-ray, and a dog may need sedation, wound exploration or additional imaging. Ask what the proposed investigation aims to find, the estimate for that step, and what happens if no seed is located.
Watch the site after treatment
Follow the clinic's wound-care and activity instructions. Contact them if swelling, discharge or licking returns at the same spot, even if it initially healed. Recurrence can mean the underlying problem remains. Keep any prescribed collar on as directed and do not stop medication just because the surface looks better.
A useful prevention habit is keeping a brush and good light near the door, so the post-walk check happens before seeds disappear into the coat.