How to Take a Sticker or Foxtail Out of Your Dog's Foot

Stickers and foxtails are all common enemies to dogs, with some causing illness, infection and even death. Foxtails are grassy weeds that grow rampantly on the west coast of the United States in winter and spring and appear dried out and plentiful in summer. Foxtails have microscopic spiky barbs that cause pain at the point of entry and lodge themselves in skin, like a fish hook, making it very difficult to remove. Foxtail seeds bury themselves into the skin and are the most common foreign body found in dogs removed by veterinarians. Burrs and stickers can get lodged in a dog̵7;s ears, eyes or throat and can blind or maim a dog if left untreated.

  1. Burr & Sticker Removal

    • Pull the hair around the burr apart until the foreign object is isolated. It takes time, but by slowly working the burr out, you may not need to use scissors. If the burr is not completely removed, expose as much of it as possible, then use hair cutting shears, which are short and sharp, to cut the burr out. If there are stubborn tangles around the burr, use a leave-in conditioning formula specifically made for dogs. Liberally apply the detangler to the knot surround the burr. Using fingers and a steel comb, work the burr out of the dog̵7;s paw.

    Foxtail Removal

    • Pull the dog̵7;s hair surrounding the foxtail out, as you would do with a matt. Once a foxtail is isolated, it may be removed with tweezers or cut out with small hair cutting shears. Search for foxtails in between the dog's toes, or caught in its fur; they can enter any opening in a dog, including his ears, nose, eyes, mouth or urethra. Foxtails can cause infection and blockage and are very dangerous; therefore, if you can̵7;t get one out on your own, you must take the animal to a veterinarian to remove it.

    Prevention

    • Avoid areas that are dense with foxtails and burrs. Be especially cautious during the summer months and dry seasons. Always check your dog for stickers, burrs, foxtails or tics when you come back from a walk. Fully examine in between your dog's paws, pads and in its ears for foxtails, stickers or burrs.

    Seek Professional Help

    • Take your dog to the vet at the first sign of it having difficulty breathing. Also, if you see a dog sneezing repeatedly, banging its head against the floor, it most likely has a foxtail up its nose that will need to be surgically removed by a licensed veterinarian. If you believe your dog has a foxtail seed lodged anywhere in its body, get it to a veterinarian immediately. Also, if your dog has a foxtail in or near its eye or in ear, don̵7;t try to take it out; get your dog immediate professional help.