A dog came in for a groom a couple of weeks ago walking a little funny on one back paw — nothing dramatic, just favoring it slightly on the way to the table. We split the fur between his toes to take a look, and there it was: a small, bristly seed wedged into the webbing, working its way in a little deeper with every step he'd taken that morning. That's a foxtail, and by mid-July it's one of the more common things we find during a brush-out around here.
What a Foxtail Actually Is
Foxtails aren't one specific plant — they're a family of grasses, and the most common one growing along Missouri lawns, fields, and trail edges is green foxtail, which the University of Missouri's weed identification program confirms grows throughout the state in turf, landscapes, and open ground. The seed head that gives the grass its name really does look like a fox's tail: a fuzzy, bottlebrush cluster made up of dozens of individual seeds. Early in the season, those seed heads are green and soft and mostly harmless. By midsummer, as the grass dries out, they turn golden brown and stiff — and that's when they start causing real problems.
Why They're Such a Problem
Each foxtail seed has a sharp point on one end and tiny backward-facing barbs running along its body, similar to a fishhook. According to the American Kennel Club, that shape is exactly what makes them dangerous: the barbs let the seed travel in one direction only, so once it catches on fur or pokes into skin, ordinary movement — walking, scratching, shaking — works it further in rather than out. A foxtail doesn't just sit on the surface. Left alone, it can migrate under the skin, carrying bacteria with it and causing an infection well away from where it first entered.
Where They Get Dogs
Foxtails latch onto whatever part of a dog brushes through the grass first, which in practice means:
- Between the toes — the single most common spot we find them, since paws are in the grass with every step.
- Ears — especially dogs with longer or floppier ears, where a seed can work its way toward the ear canal.
- Nose and mouth — from sniffing through grass or picking one up while panting.
- Eyes — a seed brushing across the face can lodge against the eye itself.
- Armpits, belly, and coat generally — anywhere fur is longer or a dog lies down in grass.
What We Check for at Every Groom
This time of year, checking for foxtails is a routine part of every appointment, not something we only do if an owner mentions a limp. We go through the coat by hand, paying particular attention to the webbing between the toes, behind and inside the ears, and any thicker patches of fur along the belly and armpits where a seed can hide without being obvious from the outside. Belle, our Weimaraner, has a short, close coat that makes this an easy visual check; Blue, our Dachshund, has longer ears and more coat around his paws, so he gets a closer look in exactly the spots foxtails like best. It's a good example of why the check looks a little different dog to dog.
If your dog's coat tends to get thick or matted by midsummer, a de-shed or a regular bath and brush also means less coat for a foxtail to hide in undetected between visits — the same reason we mentioned in our post on why doodles mat so fast in Missouri summer humidity.
Signs to Watch For Between Visits
You don't need to wait for a groom to catch one. Watch for:
- Limping or licking at one paw, sometimes with a visible swollen bump between the toes.
- Head shaking, pawing at an ear, or a head tilt, which can point to a foxtail working toward the ear canal.
- Sudden, repeated sneezing fits or nasal discharge, which can mean one was inhaled.
- Squinting, pawing at the eye, or redness, if a seed has brushed against the eye.
- A small, hard lump under the skin anywhere on the body, days or weeks after being in tall grass.
A foxtail is usually easiest to remove the sooner it's found, so any of these signs after a walk through grassy or wooded areas are worth a prompt look.
What We're Not Able to Do at the Salon
We check for foxtails at every groom and will always point one out if we find it in the coat or caught on the surface. But if a seed has already worked its way into the skin or somewhere we can't safely reach — the ear canal, the eye, deep between the toes — that's not something we're able to remove at the salon. Embedded foxtails need a vet, since going after one incorrectly can push it in further. If we find a foxtail that's already causing swelling or seems painful to the touch, we'll let you know it's time for a vet visit rather than trying to handle it ourselves.
What Actually Helps
- Know what it looks like and where it grows. Once you can spot a golden, bottlebrush seed head, it's easy to steer around patches in your yard or on a trail.
- Check your dog after walks through tall grass, fields, or trail edges — paws, ears, and coat, especially in the back half of summer when the grass has dried out and hardened.
- Keep hair trimmed between the toes, around the ears, and along the belly for longer-coated dogs, since foxtails catch on longer fur far more easily than short fur.
- Stay on a regular grooming schedule. Every visit is another close check on top of whatever you're doing at home.
If it's been a while since your dog's last visit, or you'd like that extra set of eyes checking for foxtails this summer, book an appointment here — we're at American Puppy in St. Charles, and we're checking closely all season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a foxtail look like?
A fuzzy, bottlebrush-shaped seed cluster at the top of a grass stem, similar in shape to a fox's tail. Early in summer it's green and soft; by midsummer it dries to golden brown and becomes stiff and sharp, which is when it's most dangerous.
Why are foxtails dangerous for dogs?
Each seed has tiny barbs that only let it travel in one direction. Once it catches on fur or pokes into skin, normal movement works it further in rather than out, and it can migrate under the skin and cause infection well away from where it entered.
Where do foxtails usually get stuck on a dog?
Most often between the toes, since paws are in the grass with every step. Ears, the nose, eyes, armpits, and the belly are also common spots, especially on dogs with longer coats or floppier ears.
Do groomers check for foxtails?
Yes — we check the coat, paws, and ears closely at every groom during foxtail season and will point one out if we find it. If a seed is already embedded in the skin or somewhere we can't safely reach, that's a vet visit rather than something we can remove at the salon.
What should I do if I think my dog has a foxtail stuck in them?
If you can see it on the surface of the coat, it can often just be brushed or picked out. If your dog is limping, shaking their head, sneezing repeatedly, or pawing at an eye, that suggests it's already gone deeper, and it's worth a prompt vet visit rather than waiting it out.
When is foxtail season in Missouri?
The grass grows in spring and the seed heads mature through summer, getting drier and more dangerous as the season goes on. That makes mid-to-late summer, right now, the highest-risk window, continuing until the grass dies back in fall.