Summer in Riverside is a great time for walks, hikes, park visits, and backyard play, but it also brings a common seasonal risk for dogs: foxtails. These dry, barbed grass seeds can stick to fur, work their way between toes, and cause painful paw irritation. At The Pets Place Animal Hospital, we help Riverside pet owners identify summer paw injuries early and explore treatment options, including laser therapy when appropriate.
 

Why Foxtails Are A Summer Concern

Foxtails are especially troublesome because of their sharp, one-way structure. Once they attach to your dog’s paw, coat, ear, nose, or skin, they can continue moving forward and become embedded. Between the toes, a foxtail can cause swelling, limping, licking, infection, or an abscess.

Riverside dogs that walk through dry grass, trails, fields, or overgrown areas may be at higher risk during hot summer months. Even a short outdoor adventure can leave a foxtail hidden in the paw pads or fur. That is why checking your dog after walks is one of the simplest ways to prevent a small issue from becoming a painful injury.
 

Signs Your Dog May Have A Paw Injury

Dogs often show discomfort through subtle behavior before an injury looks obvious. If your dog suddenly starts licking one paw, limping, or avoiding pressure on a foot, do not ignore it. Foxtails, cuts, burns from hot pavement, insect stings, and cracked paw pads can all cause similar symptoms.
 

Common signs of a summer paw injury include:

• Limping or holding one paw up
• Excessive licking or chewing at the foot
• Redness, swelling, or discharge between the toes
• A visible cut, puncture, or sore spot
• Sensitivity when you touch the paw
• Sudden reluctance to walk or play
• Bad odor or drainage from the paw area

If you notice these signs, schedule a veterinary exam. Embedded foxtails usually need professional removal, and infections can worsen without proper care.
 

How Veterinarians Treat Foxtails

Treatment depends on where the foxtail is located and how deeply it has traveled. If it is visible and easy to remove, your veterinarian may carefully take it out and clean the area. If the foxtail is embedded, imaging, sedation, flushing, wound care, or medication may be needed.
 

The goal is to remove the source of irritation, reduce infection risk, and support healing. Waiting too long can make the problem more complicated, especially if the foxtail moves deeper into the tissue.
 

How Laser Therapy Supports Healing

Laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses light energy to support the body’s natural healing process. At The Pets Place Animal Hospital in Riverside, cold laser therapy may be used for pain management and recovery support in pets with injuries, abrasions, lesions, acute pain, and post-surgical healing needs.
 

For summer paw injuries, laser therapy may be recommended after the underlying problem has been evaluated and treated. It does not replace foxtail removal or wound care, but it may help reduce discomfort, calm inflammation, and support tissue repair as part of a broader treatment plan.
 

Preventing Paw Problems During Riverside Summers

Prevention starts with daily habits. Avoid overgrown dry grass when possible, especially during peak foxtail season. Keep the fur around your dog’s paws trimmed, check between the toes after walks, and avoid hot pavement during the warmest parts of the day.
 

If you hike or walk in grassy areas, inspect your dog’s paws, ears, nose, and coat as soon as you get home. Early removal of loose foxtails can help prevent them from becoming embedded. For dogs with long coats or frequent outdoor exposure, regular grooming can also reduce the chance of plant material getting trapped.
 

When To Call Your Veterinarian

If your dog is limping, licking one paw nonstop, or showing swelling between the toes, it is time to call your veterinarian. Riverside summers can be tough on paws, and prompt care can help prevent infection, pain, and delayed healing.
 

Schedule your dog’s foxtail or summer paw injury evaluation with The Pets Place Animal Hospital at 625 W La Cadena Drive, Riverside, CA 92501. Call (951) 684-2181 to book your appointment.