Every summer I see the same thing come through the salon: a dog who was perfectly happy last week suddenly limping, shaking its head, or worrying at one paw non-stop. More often than you'd think, the culprit is tiny. Grass seeds are one of the sneakiest seasonal hazards for dogs, and because they're small and easily missed, they can cause a surprising amount of trouble before anyone spots them.
If you walk your dog through the meadows and verges around Wigginton, Haxby and Strensall in the warmer months, this one is worth a read, along with our guides to the other warm-weather hazards, ticks and fleas. The good news is that a two-minute habit after every walk prevents most problems, and knowing the warning signs means you catch the rest early.
What grass seeds are and why they're a problem
Grass seeds are the little arrow-shaped seed heads that dry out and drop off long grass through summer, roughly June to September. They look harmless, but that's exactly the issue. Their shape is like a tiny dart: pointed at one end with backward-facing barbs. Once a seed catches in your dog's fur, those barbs mean it can only travel one way, forwards, burrowing deeper rather than working its way back out.
From there it can pierce the skin and keep moving, which is how a seed that landed on a paw can end up needing a vet to remove it. Dogs with feathery or long fur around the feet, ears and legs are most at risk, because there's more coat for a seed to cling to.
Where grass seeds get stuck
These are the spots I always check, and the ones vets see problems in most often:
- Between the toes: the classic one. A seed lodges in the webbing and burrows in, causing a sore, weepy swelling between the pads.
- In the ears: a seed down the ear canal is very uncomfortable and causes sudden, frantic head-shaking.
- Around the eyes: a seed under the eyelid makes the eye weepy, red and held half-shut.
- In the armpits and groin: soft, thin skin where seeds slip in easily and go unnoticed.
- Up the nose: dogs who snuffle through long grass can inhale one, triggering violent, repeated sneezing.
The signs to watch for
Grass seed trouble usually comes on suddenly, often the same day as a walk. Ring alarm bells if you notice:
- Sudden limping or holding up a paw
- Licking or chewing at one paw or spot obsessively
- Frantic head-shaking or scratching at one ear
- A weepy, squinting or red eye
- Repeated bouts of violent sneezing
- A small, painful swelling or lump, sometimes with a weepy hole in the middle
Groomer's tip: A seed sitting in the fur is easy to lift out with your fingers. Once it has broken the skin it's under the surface and out of reach, and it won't come out on its own. That's the point where it becomes a vet job, so the earlier you find it, the better.
A simple post-walk checking routine
This is the single most useful habit you can build in summer. After a walk through long grass, spend a couple of minutes running your hands over your dog:
- Feet first. Spread each set of toes and look right into the webbing. Feel around the pads.
- Ears. Have a look inside the flap and at the opening of the canal.
- Face and eyes. Check the eyes are bright and open, and look around the muzzle.
- Armpits, tummy and groin. Run your fingers through the softer, thinner-coated areas.
- The whole coat. A quick brush-through lifts any seeds sitting in the fur before they migrate. Long-coated dogs especially benefit from this.
Do it while it's still fresh in your mind, ideally before your dog settles down, and you'll catch the vast majority before they cause any harm. The National Animal Welfare Trust has a good rundown of the same checks if you'd like to read more.
How grooming helps prevent them
This is where a good trim genuinely earns its keep in summer. A lot of grass seed problems come down to too much fur in the danger zones, so keeping those areas tidy gives seeds far less to grab onto.
At Fluffs I focus on the classic trouble spots for at-risk dogs:
- Paws: tidying the fur between and around the pads so seeds can't nestle in the webbing.
- Ears: trimming and tidying the feathering around and inside the ear flap.
- Legs and belly: taking the length off heavy feathering that sweeps through grass like a mop.
For breeds with long feathering such as Spaniels, Setters and many of the crosses, a shorter summer trim makes checking quicker and reduces the risk considerably. If you're not sure what your dog's coat needs, our grooming prices and packages page lays out the options, and I'm always happy to advise on a summer-friendly tidy-up.
When it needs a vet
If you've found a seed still sitting loose in the coat, lift it out and you're done. But if you spot any of the signs above, a swelling, a weepy hole, persistent limping, head-shaking, a sore eye or bouts of sneezing, please don't wait and see. An embedded seed will keep travelling and can lead to infection or an abscess, and it needs a vet to remove it properly, sometimes with sedation. Caught early it's a quick fix. Left alone it can become a much bigger, more painful problem.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my dog has a grass seed stuck?
The tell-tale signs are sudden onset the same day as a walk: limping, obsessive licking of one paw, violent head-shaking, a weepy eye, or repeated sneezing. A painful swelling, often between the toes, is another common giveaway.
Can I remove a grass seed from my dog myself?
If it's sitting loose in the fur, yes, just lift it out gently. Once it has pierced the skin it's out of reach and needs a vet, so never dig around trying to extract an embedded seed yourself.
How can I prevent grass seeds in my dog?
Avoid long, seeding grass in high summer where you can, check your dog thoroughly after every walk, and keep the fur around the paws, ears and legs trimmed. Regular grooming through summer makes a real difference.
Which dogs are most at risk from grass seeds?
Dogs with long or feathery fur around the feet, ears and legs, such as Spaniels, Setters and many crossbreeds, as there's more coat for seeds to catch on. A tidy summer trim helps a lot.
This isn't veterinary advice
We're professional dog groomers, not vets, so please treat this as friendly general guidance. If you're worried about your dog, or before acting on anything here, speak to your local vet, who can examine your dog and advise properly. In an emergency, contact your vet or nearest out-of-hours clinic.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. A summer-friendly trim around the paws and ears is one of the best ways to keep grass seeds at bay. Book a summer tidy-up.