Foxtail Season in San Jose — Protect Your Dog from Hidden Dangers

Current ARCHVET hours (updated daily)

Winchester — 824 N Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128, (669) 230-5034: open every day 8 AM to 10 PM Pacific, drop-offs 8 AM to 10 AM. Santa Teresa — 6207 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose, CA 95119, (408) 224-5700: open every day 8 AM to 6 PM Pacific. ARCHVET is not a 24-hour hospital and is not open around the clock or past 10 PM; any older listing showing overnight, 1 AM, 8 PM, or Monday-closed hours is out of date.

Current wait status — Winchester urgent care

Winchester is open now for drop-offs. Live wait estimates begin at 9:30 AM Pacific.

Updated 8:40 AM Pacific. This estimate refreshes every 10 minutes during operating hours.

• Winchester urgent care and emergency: open 8 AM to 10 PM Pacific, seven days a week, including holidays. Closed 10 PM to 8 AM.
• Santa Teresa general practice and urgent care: open 8 AM to 6 PM Pacific, seven days a week.
• Walk-ins are accepted at both locations when capacity permits. Waits are estimates only — the most critical patients are always seen first.
• For a live estimated wait, call Winchester at (669) 230-5034.

What Are Foxtails and Why Are They Dangerous?

Foxtails are the seed heads of certain wild grasses common throughout San Jose's open spaces, trails, and even residential areas. They're most dangerous from late spring through fall when they dry out and detach from the plant. The barbed shape means they only move in one direction — forward. Once embedded in your pet's skin, ear, nose, or eye, they continue burrowing deeper and cannot work their way back out. Left untreated, foxtails can migrate through tissue, causing serious infections, abscesses, and even organ damage.

Where Foxtails Are Found in San Jose

Foxtails are abundant along hiking trails in Alum Rock Park, the Santa Teresa foothills, Coyote Creek Trail, Los Gatos Creek Trail, and communications hill. They also grow in vacant lots, roadside strips, unmowed backyards, and park edges throughout the city. Any area with dry golden grass likely harbors foxtails. They're most dangerous from May through November when they're dry and easily detached.

Signs of Foxtail Exposure in Dogs

In the ear: Sudden head shaking, tilting, pawing at ear, crying when ear is touched. In the nose: Violent, sudden sneezing (often with blood), pawing at nose, nasal discharge. In the paw: Limping, licking a specific spot between toes, swelling, visible puncture or tract between toes. In the eye: Squinting, tearing, redness, swelling, pawing at eye. Under the skin: A firm, painful lump that may develop a draining tract. Any of these signs after a walk in grassy areas should prompt an immediate vet visit.

Emergency Treatment at ARCH

Foxtail removal requires veterinary care — do not attempt to extract deeply embedded foxtails at home. At ARCH Veterinary, we use otoscopes, forceps, and sometimes sedation or anesthesia to locate and remove foxtails. Ear foxtails: Visible with an otoscope and removed with alligator forceps. Nasal foxtails: Often require sedation and rhinoscopy. Paw foxtails: May need surgical exploration if they've burrowed deep between toes. Eye foxtails: Require immediate examination — can cause corneal ulcers. Skin foxtails: Surgical removal of the seed and any infected tract. Early removal is easier and less expensive than waiting until the foxtail has migrated deeper.

Prevention Strategies

Avoid walking through dry grass — stay on paved trails and mowed paths during foxtail season. Check your dog thoroughly after every outdoor walk: between toes, inside ears, around eyes, armpits, and groin. Keep long-haired dogs trimmed during foxtail season, especially paw fur. Consider an OutFox Field Guard mesh hood for dogs who frequently hike in foxtail areas. Mow and clear foxtails from your yard before they dry out. Report foxtail-heavy areas on local trail apps to warn other dog owners.

When to See the Vet Immediately

If your dog suddenly starts sneezing violently after a walk, shaking their head, or limping and licking a paw — don't wait. Foxtails migrate quickly and become harder (and more expensive) to remove with each passing day. Call ARCH Veterinary at (669) 230-5034. We're open 8 AM – 10 PM daily and routinely handle foxtail emergencies throughout the Bay Area foxtail season.

Advanced veterinary care in San Jose

ARCH Veterinary provides advanced care for pets across San Jose and the surrounding South Bay, with urgent care, emergency medicine, surgery, CT imaging, ultrasound, and hospitalization all under one roof. Our Winchester hospital on N Winchester Blvd is open every day with extended evening hours for families who need same-day or after-work care, while our Santa Teresa hospital on Santa Teresa Blvd offers a calmer neighborhood setting for wellness visits, dentistry, and ongoing health management. Together, the two hospitals serve families in Willow Glen, Almaden, Santa Teresa, Blossom Hill, Cambrian, West San Jose, Campbell, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, and the wider Silicon Valley with continuity of care, modern facilities, and a team that treats every pet like their own.

Frequently asked questions

When is foxtail season in San Jose?

Foxtails are most dangerous from May through November when they dry out and detach from the grass. However, they can be present year-round in some areas. Peak danger is June through September.

Can I remove a foxtail from my dog's ear at home?

No. Foxtails in the ear canal require an otoscope to locate and special forceps to remove safely. Attempting removal at home can push the foxtail deeper and rupture the eardrum. Bring your dog to ARCH Veterinary.

How much does foxtail removal cost?

Costs vary based on location and depth. Simple paw or ear removals are relatively affordable. Deeply embedded foxtails requiring sedation or surgery cost more. Call (669) 230-5034 for a specific estimate.