Foxtails and Your Dog
A Hidden Danger in San Diego’s Dry Season
What Is a Foxtail?
Foxtails are wild grasses found throughout California, and in San Diego they are a year-round presence that becomes acutely dangerous in late spring and summer when the grass dries out. The seed heads develop backward-facing barbs, and when the grass dries completely, those barbs do something alarming: they launch.
Walk through a dry foxtail patch, brush your shoe against a stalk, and you can watch the seed head ricochet off the stem and become airborne. It doesn’t drift. It propels. That same mechanical energy is what drives the barb into your dog’s skin, paw, nose, or ear in an instant — often before you realize it happened.
| WHY IT DOESN’T COME BACK OUT | Unlike a thorn or splinter, foxtail barbs are angled to move in only one direction. Every muscle contraction, every breath, every step your dog takes pushes the barb deeper into the tissue. Foxtails have been found migrating to the spine, lungs, and abdominal cavity. |
Why Boston Terriers Are Especially Vulnerable
Boston Terriers have short, fine coats that offer almost no barrier against a launched seed. Their low-to-the-ground build means their chests, bellies, and paws move through exactly the height where foxtail stalks are densest. Their short muzzles and characteristically curious noses are prime entry points for airborne seeds, particularly on a dry, breezy San Diego afternoon.
Warning Signs by Entry Point
Symptoms appear quickly — often within hours. Know what to look for at each location.
- Nose: Violent, repetitive sneezing
- One-sided nasal discharge, sometimes bloody
- Pawing at the face or muzzle
- Ears: Head shaking or persistent tilting
- Scratching at one ear
- Crying or sensitivity when touched near the head
- Eyes: Squinting, blinking, or holding one eye shut
- Redness, tearing, or swelling around the eye
- Paws: Limping or licking one paw obsessively
- Swelling or redness between the toes
- A small, draining bump or sore that appears suddenly
| IMPORTANT | Foxtail injuries do not resolve on their own. They are a veterinary emergency. The longer a foxtail remains in the body, the greater the risk of deep infection, abscess, or internal damage. |
What to Do If You Suspect a Foxtail
Inhaled foxtail (nose or airway)
Go directly to your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital. Do not attempt to remove anything from the nasal passage at home. Your vet will use a lighted scope to locate and remove the seed, typically under sedation. Time matters.
Foxtail in the paw
If you can clearly see the very tip of the foxtail protruding from unbroken skin, you may remove it carefully with tweezers. If there is any swelling, redness, a draining wound, or you cannot see the end — stop. Do not probe. Visit your vet promptly. Digging into the area can push the barb deeper or break it, making removal significantly harder.
Prevention: Check Every Time
After every outing in grassy, brushy, or wild areas, inspect your Boston from nose to tail before you get back in the car. Run your fingers through the coat slowly and methodically.
- Between every toe and under all four paw pads
- Inside the ears and around the ear flap
- Around the eyes, lips, and muzzle
- Chest, belly, armpits, and groin
- Base of the tail
Avoid walking your dog through tall, dry, or unmowed grass during dry season. Keep your own yard mowed short. In San Diego, foxtail season runs roughly April through October — but in a drought year, it can extend well beyond that.
| Quick Reference: If You See These Signs, Call Your Vet Now Violent sneezing after being in grass • Sudden limping with paw licking • Eye squinting or discharge • Head shaking that won’t stop • Any small draining wound that appeared suddenly |
This information is for educational purposes. Always consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.