Grass Awns in Pets: The Hidden Outdoor Hazard You Shouldn’t Ignore

Southern California is perfect for outdoor adventures with your pets: hikes through the foothills, romps in the backyard, and neighborhood walks under sunny skies. But along with the beauty of tall grass and wildflowers comes a hidden danger: grass awns, also called foxtails.

These tiny barbed seeds don’t just stick to fur. They can burrow into skin, ears, eyes, and even organs. Left untreated, they cause painful infections and sometimes life-threatening complications. At Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora, we see grass awn injuries often during the warmer months and want you to know how to spot them before they escalate.

What Exactly Are Grass Awns?

Grass awns are the sharp, arrow-shaped seeds of plants like foxtails or spear grass. Their barbed structure means they only move forward, never backward, making them especially dangerous once attached to your pet.

Awns easily cling to fur, paws, or ears during outdoor play, especially in overgrown yards, fields, or trails. They pose the greatest risk for active dogs who love running through tall grasses, but cats who roam outdoors are equally at risk. Once they attach, awns often begin migrating into tissue within hours.

Why They’re More Dangerous Than They Look

Unlike a burr or splinter that stays in one place, grass awns don’t sit still. They migrate deeper with every movement your pet makes. This constant progression can lead to serious health issues:

  • Abscesses and draining tracts under the skin
  • Chronic ear infections or ruptured eardrums
  • Severe respiratory infections if inhaled
  • Corneal ulcers and permanent vision loss
  • Migration into the chest or abdomen, damaging vital organs

Because awns carry bacteria with them, infections develop quickly. In severe cases, they can puncture lungs, create internal abscesses, or track into the spinal column. What starts as a minor irritant can become an emergency requiring advanced surgery.

Where Foxtails Hide and How They Show Up

Grass awns can lodge almost anywhere, but the most common sites include:

  • Paws: licking, limping, swollen toe webs
  • Ears: head shaking, odor, scratching, whining
  • Nose: sneezing, nasal discharge, pawing at the face
  • Eyes: squinting, redness, excessive tearing
  • Skin: lumps, oozing wounds that won’t heal

They’ve even been found in gums, the genital area, and deep within muscle tissue. If your pet rolls in a patch of tall grass, awns can lodge in multiple areas at once. Sometimes symptoms take several days to appear, making it hard to connect them with outdoor activity.

Subtle Warning Signs After Outdoor Play

Because symptoms don’t always appear immediately, owners may dismiss early changes as mild irritation. Subtle red flags include:

  • Sudden limping or licking a single paw
  • Head tilts, whining, or repeated ear scratching
  • Persistent sneezing or coughing without obvious cause
  • Swelling under the skin that seems to worsen quickly
  • Wounds that reopen or won’t respond to normal care

If your pet shows these signs after being outdoors, same-day evaluation is critical. Delaying can allow the awn to move deeper, where removal becomes more invasive and risky. Visit our emergency and urgent care services to see how we can help.

How Vets Diagnose and Treat Awn Injuries

Grass awns do not work themselves out. Professional removal is the only solution. At Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora, treatment may include:

  • Careful examination of paws, ears, eyes, and coat
  • Sedation or anesthesia for safe removal in painful or delicate areas
  • Imaging such as ultrasound, CT, or X-rays to locate deeply migrated awns
  • Surgery or endoscopy if the awn has entered the chest, abdomen, or sinuses
  • Cultures to identify bacteria causing secondary infections
  • Antibiotics, pain management, and sometimes laser therapy to speed healing

One of the most dangerous complications is an awn that reaches the chest cavity. These pets may present with sudden difficulty breathing, fever, or lethargy. Without prompt surgical care, the outcome can be fatal. Eye, ear, and nasal cases are also urgent, as irreversible damage can occur in as little as 24 hours.

Prevention Strategies That Really Work

You can’t eliminate grass awns from the environment, but consistent prevention significantly lowers risk:

  • Stick to well-maintained, mowed trails and avoid overgrown lots
  • Inspect paws, ears, and fur after every outing, especially between the toes
  • Trim fur between paw pads and around ears in long-haired breeds
  • Schedule regular grooming to reduce debris collection
  • Use protective gear like Outfox hoods or dog boots on risky hikes
  • Train pets to tolerate gentle face and paw handling, so checks become easy and stress-free

These small habits prevent the majority of foxtail injuries we see in the hospital.

Quick Post-Adventure Checklist

Before heading inside after a walk or hike, take two minutes to run through this checklist:

  • Comb through legs, tail, and underbelly
  • Spread paw pads to check between toes
  • Look inside ears for debris or seeds
  • Examine gums and mouth, especially in stick-chewing dogs
  • Monitor for sneezing, coughing, limping, or licking over the next 24 hours

If you notice anything unusual, it’s better to schedule a same-day visit than wait and see.

FAQs About Grass Awns

Do grass awns work themselves out?
No. They continue migrating forward until surgically removed.

Are they only a summer problem?
Peak season is spring through fall, but in Southern California’s dry climate, foxtails can remain hazardous year-round.

Are cats at risk?
Yes. Outdoor cats often present with eye injuries, nasal issues, or draining wounds on the skin.

Can they be life-threatening?
Absolutely. Once inside the chest or abdomen, awns can cause pneumonia, internal abscesses, or sepsis.

How soon should I call the vet?
Immediately. Delaying even 24 hours can mean the difference between a simple removal and invasive surgery.

Protecting Pets from Hidden Outdoor Hazards

Grass awns may be small, but their impact on your pet’s health can be massive. Quick action, careful inspections, and preventive habits are your best defenses.

If you suspect a grass awn injury, don’t wait. Contact Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora immediately. Our team of emergency veterinarians is available overnight on weekdays and 24/7 on weekends and holidays to handle urgent cases.

500 S Glendora Ave, Glendora, CA 91740
(626) 702-2436
Care you can count on—when it matters most.