Grass Seeds, Paws and Ears: What Dog Owners Should Check After Summer Walks

Learn where to check your dog for grass seeds after summer walks, including the paws, ears and coat, plus when veterinary help is needed.

Laura

8/20/20262 min read

Summer walks can take dogs through long grass, woodland paths, fields and overgrown verges. These routes offer plenty to sniff and explore, but they can leave seeds, burrs and other plant material caught in the coat.

Grass seeds can be particularly troublesome. Their pointed shape allows them to catch in fur and work closer to the skin. Regular checks after a walk can help owners find visible debris early and recognise when veterinary advice may be needed.

Where should you check your dog?

Run your hands gently over your dog after walks through long or dry grass. Focus on the areas where seeds and small pieces of vegetation commonly become trapped:

Between the toes and around the paw pads
Around and beneath the ears
Under the armpits
Along the chest and stomach
Around the groin
Beneath the tail
Through leg, ear and tail feathering
Under collars and harnesses

Longer, curly and densely coated dogs may collect more debris, yet short-coated dogs still need checking. Grass seeds can sit between toes or enter an ear regardless of overall coat length.

Good lighting makes checking easier. Part the coat in small sections and look for anything caught near the skin rather than brushing quickly over the surface.

Checking your dog’s paws

Summer paw care for dogs starts with a quick look after each walk. Check between every toe, around the nails and beneath any longer fur surrounding the pads.

Small, loose pieces of grass resting on the coat may be removed carefully if they lift away without resistance. Stop if an object appears embedded, the area is painful or your dog repeatedly pulls their paw away.

Persistent licking, chewing, swelling, redness or limping can indicate that something is wrong. These signs need veterinary advice rather than further probing at home.

Keeping excess fur around the paw pads neat may make regular checks easier. It should be trimmed carefully with appropriate grooming equipment, particularly near delicate skin.

Checking the ears and face

Look around the outer ear, beneath the ear flap and through any longer ear furnishings. Never insert grooming tools, cotton buds or fingers into the ear canal.

Contact a vet if your dog suddenly begins shaking their head, holding it at an unusual angle, scratching one ear or showing signs of pain. A groomer can clean and tidy the visible outer areas during a suitable appointment, but suspected objects inside the ear require veterinary assessment.

Check around the eyes, nose and mouth too. Seek veterinary help if a seed appears trapped close to the eye or has entered the nose.

Brushing after a summer walk

Brushing can remove loose seeds, dry grass and dirt before they become tangled into the coat. Use a brush suited to your dog’s coat type and work gently through one section at a time.

Do not drag a brush through a knot containing plant material. This may pull at the skin or break the debris into smaller pieces. If you cannot see where the tangle begins, ask a groomer to deal with it safely.

Owners should still check the skin by hand. A surface brush may glide over debris hidden beneath a longer coat.

How grooming can support regular checks

Regular grooming can keep paws, nails, ears and feathering easier to inspect throughout summer. A tidy-up may be useful if longer fur continually traps grass, seeds and dirt.

Yappy Paws can help with coat maintenance, paw tidying and nail appointments in Chester. Grooming does not replace veterinary care, and any embedded object, pain or sudden behavioural change should be assessed by a vet.

A short check after each walk takes very little time and can help you spot a problem before it becomes harder to manage.

Yappy Paws Dog Grooming in Chester

📍 Chester, Cheshire
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Serving Chester and surrounding areas including Hoole, Upton, Vicars Cross, Boughton, Huntington, and nearby villages such as Guilden Sutton and Mickle Trafford.