Summer Grass Seeds and Micro-Hazards on Your Walks

June is one of the best months to be a dog owner. The days are long, the fields are golden, and your dog is absolutely in their element bounding through long grass. But those beautiful meadows and grassy verges are hiding something worth knowing about: the grass seed.

Small, sharp, and shaped like a tiny arrow, grass seeds (sometimes called foxtail seeds) are one of summer's most overlooked hazards. They might look harmless, but they can cause some serious discomfort for your dog if you do not catch them early.

Here's what you need to know.

The clue is in the shape. Grass seeds have a pointed tip and a rough, barbed body. That structure means they can only travel in one direction: forward. Once they get into your dog's fur or skin, they keep moving inward. They cannot work their way back out on their own.

Common types to watch for in the UK include wild barley, foxtail barley, and meadow grass seeds. They dry out over summer, break off easily, and are light enough to cling to fur as your dog brushes past.

Once attached, they can:

• Burrow between the toes and cause a swollen, painful paw

• Enter the ear canal, which can lead to infection and real distress

• Get under the eyelid, causing redness, discharge, and damage to the eye

• Migrate under the skin and, in rare but serious cases, travel deeper into the body

That last point is what makes foxtail grass seeds dogs owners should worry about genuinely more dangerous than other everyday hazards. A seed that is left unnoticed can move through tissue and cause abscesses far from the original entry point. Vets do see this, particularly during July and August when grass seeds are at their driest and most mobile.

Checking your dog for grass seeds after every summer walk is one of the best habits you can build. It takes just a few minutes and can save you a very stressful vet visit.

Work through these areas carefully:

Part the fur between each toe and feel for anything sharp or scratchy. Look for small entry points or any skin that looks red or irritated. This is the most common spot for grass seeds to enter.

The soft, hairless skin in these areas is particularly vulnerable. Run your fingers through the fur slowly and feel for any bumps or seeds caught close to the skin.

Look inside the ear flap and gently check around the opening of the ear canal. If your dog has long, floppy ears or fluffy ear fur, take extra care here as seeds can easily hide.

Check the corners of the eyes and around the nose. Seeds can flick up during a run through long grass and lodge under the eyelid.

Run both hands through the full length of your dog's coat, paying extra attention to any matted or clumped areas. Seeds love to tangle in longer or curly fur.

A slicker brush used gently after a walk in grassy areas can also help dislodge seeds before they have a chance to embed.

Sometimes you will not catch a seed in time. Here are the signs to watch for:

A swollen paw is one of the most obvious red flags. If your dog suddenly develops a lump on their paw, especially between the toes, a grass seed is a very common culprit. You may also notice a small entry wound or a weeping spot on the skin.

Other signs include:

• Intense, persistent licking of one paw or area (not just a general groom, but focused, obsessive licking)

• Head shaking or pawing at one ear, especially if it comes on suddenly after a walk

• One eye that is squinting, watering, or kept partially closed

• A sudden limp with no obvious explanation

• A lump under the skin that was not there before

If you notice any of these, do not wait to see if it clears up. Book a vet appointment as soon as you can.

When your dog's skin is healthy and strong, it is better at keeping hazards out and recovering quickly when minor abrasions do happen. That is where good nutrition comes in.

Hemp seed oil is a brilliant source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in a ratio that suits dogs particularly well. These fatty acids are important building blocks for a strong, resilient skin barrier. A well-nourished skin barrier is more effective at keeping irritants out, and when small nicks or scrapes do occur from twigs, grass, or rough terrain, those essential fatty acids help support the skin's natural healing process.

Hemp seed oil also contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which has natural soothing properties and can be helpful for dogs whose skin tends to react easily to environmental triggers.

Adding a good quality hemp seed oil to your dog's food daily is a simple way to support their skin from the outside in.

Here is something a lot of owners do not realise: a healthy gut has a direct impact on skin health. When your dog's digestive system is working well and their gut bacteria are nicely balanced, their immune system is better at managing inflammation. That means less reactive skin, faster recovery from minor irritation, and a stronger overall barrier against the environment.

Our Super Tummy Daily Plus is a prebiotic, probiotic and postbiotic powder that works to support a balanced gut microbiome. It also contains slippery elm, which is well known for its soothing, coating properties along the digestive tract. Together, these ingredients help keep the gut in good order, which in turn helps the skin do its job more effectively.

If your dog tends to have reactive or sensitive skin, supporting their gut at the same time as their skin barrier is a really sensible approach, particularly heading into summer when there is more to contend with on walks.

None of this replaces a thorough post-walk check, of course. But building a solid nutritional foundation gives your dog's body a much better chance of coping with the bumps and scrapes that come with a life well walked.

Honestly, any dog that goes outside during summer is at some level of risk. But certain dogs are more likely to pick up grass seeds:

• Spaniels, retrievers, and other long-eared breeds are particularly prone to ear seeds

• Dogs with curly or dense coats can collect seeds without you realising

• Dogs that love diving into long grass or undergrowth during off-lead time

If your dog falls into any of these groups, it is worth being especially thorough with your post-walk check.

• Stick to shorter, well-maintained grass where possible during peak seed season (June through to September)

• Keep fur around the paws trimmed short during summer, particularly between the toes

• Consider a light dog boot or paw protector for dogs that regularly walk through fields

• Check your dog as soon as you get home, before they settle down and before seeds have time to work their way in deeper

• If you notice seeds caught in the coat, remove them carefully before they get a chance to embed

If your dog already had a rough time earlier in the year with seasonal itching or skin irritation, their skin barrier may need a little extra support heading into summer. We covered this in our guide to The Spring Itch if you want to read more about why dogs can get so itchy as the seasons change.