Big Trouble in Little Seeds!

While tiny in size, grass seeds can cause massive complications for dogs. Despite their unsuspecting looks, grass seeds are shaped like arrowheads, allowing them to effectively burrow deep into your pooches body through their coat, paws, ears, or any exposed opening.

Once inside the skin, the grass seed can continue to burrow and make its way into various parts of the body and causing infection and painful swelling which can also lead to an abscess. If they have made their way into the body, the only treatment option is to find and remove them - which can be a tough task.

Symptoms are dependent on where the grass seed has managed to lodge itself. Here are the common areas and what to look for:

●       Skin: Chewing and licking an isolated area of the skin where a seed could be lodged, causing redness and swelling, you may also visibly see the seed sticking out

●       Ear: Shaking their head, redness, rubbing and scratching their ear against surfaces or with their paws, continually tilting their head at an angle.

●       Eyes: Redness and swelling, discharge, constant tears, rubbing of the eye

●       Nose & lungs: Pawing at their nose or rubbing it against surfaces, constant sneezing, unusual nasal discharge, or difficulty breathing

●       Paws: Constant licking of paws, redness, swelling, a tiny cut in the paw, and being unable to bear weight on the paw.

●       Mouth & throat: Coughing, gagging, and vomiting, issues with eating and swallowing

If you can see the grass seed in your dog's coat, remove it immediately with tweezers. If some of it has embedded into their skin, ensure you pluck it from the base where it meets the skin and not from the top as you may risk breaking it. Even once you have removed it, it's advisable to seek veterinary advice to ensure nothing has been left behind.

If you spot the seed in your dog's ear, do not try to remove it on your own as you risk pushing the seed deeper into the ear canal and causing further damage to the eardrum or soft tissue.

If you notice redness and swelling but cannot see a grass seed, go straight to the vet as the seed may have made its way into your dog's body where it can travel and cause significant internal damage.

Prevention is always better than cure - particularly in the case of grass seeds. Try and keep your dog away from long/dry grassy areas where seeds are more likely to catch on their coats. It’s also wise to consistently mow your lawn at home to keep the grass short.