Are foxtails dangerous to dogs?

Yes. Foxtail awns are barbed so they only travel forward, burrowing into skin, paws, ears, noses and eyes and carrying bacteria. They do not break down in the body and can migrate through tissue, causing painful abscesses and infections — sometimes reaching the lungs. Embedded foxtails usually need to be removed by a veterinarian.

What should I do if my dog gets a foxtail?

If you can see a foxtail on the surface of the coat or just under the skin, gently remove it with tweezers. If it has lodged in the eye, ear, nose, or deep in the paw or skin — or your dog is sneezing violently, head-shaking, squinting, or has a swollen, draining lump — see your veterinarian promptly, as it may need professional removal under sedation.

Foxtail Season in Marin: What Every Dog Owner Should Know

Q: When is foxtail season in Marin?

Foxtail season in Marin runs roughly from late spring through fall — about May to November. The barbed seed heads turn dangerous once the grasses dry out and go golden in early summer, and they stay a hazard until the winter rains return.

If you walk your dog in Marin from late spring through fall, foxtails are the hazard worth knowing about. These barbed grass seeds are everywhere in Northern California’s golden hills — and a single one can turn a happy hike into an emergency vet visit. Here’s what they are, when they’re dangerous, and how to keep your pooch safe.

The short version: from about May to November, check your dog head-to-paw after every walk in dry grass. Barbed foxtail awns burrow in, never back out on their own, and can cause serious infections — when in doubt, see your vet.

🌾 What are foxtails?

“Foxtail” is the common name for the dried seed heads of several wild grasses (and the grass awns they shed). The seed head looks like a bushy fox’s tail, made up of hard, pointed seeds covered in tiny backward-facing barbs.

Those barbs are the problem. They’re shaped so the awn can only move in one direction — forward. Once a foxtail catches in your dog’s coat or skin, it works its way in and can’t back out. Each one also carries soil bacteria with it, so wherever it travels, it brings infection.

📅 When is foxtail season in Marin?

In Marin and across NorCal, foxtail season runs roughly late spring through fall — about May to November. The plants are harmless and green in winter and early spring; the danger begins when the grasses dry out and turn golden in early summer, and it lasts until the winter rains soften everything again.

Marin’s open grasslands are prime foxtail country — think the dry hillsides of Mount Burdell, Ring Mountain and the Open Space preserves. The same goes for grassy hills all over the city; see the SF dog hikes guide for trails where summer foxtails are common.

🚑 Why foxtails are so dangerous

Because the barbs only let them travel forward, embedded foxtails don’t fall out — they keep migrating through tissue, and your dog’s body can’t break them down. A foxtail that enters between the toes can tunnel up the leg; one inhaled up the nose can reach the sinuses; in rare cases they migrate into the chest and lungs and cause life-threatening infections.

Where they get stuck

The most common entry points are the spots that brush through grass or sniff the ground: between the toes and paw pads, inside the ears, up the nose, around the eyes, and in the armpits, groin and under the tail. Long-haired and floppy-eared dogs are especially prone.

⚠️ Warning signs to watch for

A foxtail injury often shows up fast. See your vet if your dog suddenly:

Paws: limps, or obsessively licks or chews one foot — or you spot a swollen, red, sometimes draining lump between the toes.
Ears: shakes the head violently, tilts it to one side, or paws/scratches at an ear.
Nose: sneezes suddenly and repeatedly, paws at the muzzle, or has nasal discharge (sometimes bloody).
Eyes: squints, paws at an eye, or shows redness, swelling or discharge.
Skin/body: develops an abscess or a draining sore that won’t heal.

🛡️ How to protect your dog

Check after every walk. Run your hands over the whole coat and look closely at paws (between every toe), ears, armpits, groin and around the face.
Trim summer fur. Keep the coat — especially the hair between paw pads and around the ears — short during foxtail season.
Stick to the trail. Keep dogs out of tall, dried-out grass and off overgrown verges; mowed paths and beaches are far safer.
Brush it out promptly. Comb through the coat soon after a hike so any awns are removed before they work in.
Consider gear. For foxtail-heavy areas, protective mesh hoods (“OutFox”-style) and snug booties can help.
Know your hot spots. Be extra vigilant on grassland hikes in summer and early fall.
Watch for ticks too. The same trails bring ticks — see tick season in Marin.

🩺 What to do if your dog gets a foxtail

If you can clearly see a foxtail sitting on the surface of the coat or just under the skin, gently pull it straight out with tweezers and watch the spot for swelling.

Call your vet if the foxtail is lodged in an eye, ear, nose, or deep in a paw or the skin — or if your dog is sneezing violently, head-shaking, squinting, or has a swollen, draining lump. Embedded awns usually need professional removal, often under sedation, and the sooner they come out, the less damage they do.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice — always consult your vet about your dog. Sources: SF SPCA, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, PetMD and Preventive Vet.

🦮 Out walking this summer?

Andy checks every dog paw-to-ear after each walk and knows Marin’s trails — book a walk or in-home sitting with someone who’ll keep your pooch safe in foxtail season.

Book a walk or sitting 🐾