Grass seeds in dogs

Grass seeds in dogs

By
✔ MRCVS
BSc
BVM&S
FHEA
Reviewed by Dr. Valter Carlos
✔ MRCVS
LMV
MSc
Updated October 16, 2025
8 min read

Overview

Symptoms

Risks

Diagnosis

Vet treatment

How to help at home

Prevention

When to worry

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Grass seeds in dogs

Grass seeds in dogs

By
✔ MRCVS
BSc
BVM&S
FHEA
Reviewed by Dr. Valter Carlos
✔ MRCVS
LMV
MSc
Updated October 16, 2025
8 min read

Grass seeds are a common problem for dogs and dog owners in the summer months. Any dog who runs or plays in long grass will pick up grass seeds in their coat. These seeds can cause painful problems when they work their way under the skin or into your dog’s eyes, nose or ears.

Grass seeds are the sharp bristles or awns at the top of long grasses. They anchor in your dog’s hair as they brush by or walk over the grass. They can work their way into small spaces, like ear canals or between toes. This is intensely irritating and painful for your dog. Serious complications can develop if undetected seeds continue to work their way from their entry point to deeper parts of the body, including the lungs and eyes. Always check your dog's coat and paws for grass seeds after summertime walks in long grass to reduce the risks of problems later on.

What are grass seeds? >What are grass seeds? [Overview

Symptoms of grass seeds in dogs >Symptoms of grass seeds in dogs [Symptoms

Dogs at higher risk of getting a grass seed >Dogs at higher risk of getting a grass seed [Risks

How do vets diagnose grass seed problems in dogs >How do vets diagnose grass seed problems in dogs [Diagnosis

Vet treatment for grass seeds in dogs >Vet treatment for grass seeds in dogs [Vet treatment

Home treatment for grass seeds in dogs >Home treatment for grass seeds in dogs [How to help at home

How to prevent your dog from getting grass seeds >How to prevent your dog from getting grass seeds [Prevention

When to worry about grass seeds on your dog >When to worry about grass seeds on your dog [When to worry

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