02/08/2024
Grass seeds might look small and harmless, but in the wrong place, they can cause a great deal of trouble. If your dog has been running in long grass, always check them for grass seeds afterwards, and remove any that you find, especially in between the toes, round their armpits and near their eyes. If you find one stuck, or a wound/swelling that looks like it could contain one, book an appointment with your vet. It’s important to remove grass seeds quickly, because their pointy shape enables them to pierce through skin, enter the body and travel around causing problems such as infections and abscesses.
🔸SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR🔸
Grass seeds often cause problems in the ears, between toes, behind eyelids, up their nose and sometimes, under the skin and around the body.
EARS: If your dog has a grass seed in their ear, you may notice them excessively scratching it, or shaking their head.
EYES: If your dog has a grass seed stuck behind their eyelid, they are likely to develop a painful, weepy or sore eye.
PAWS: If your dog has a grass seed between their toes, they might excessively lick or nibble their paw, and overtime you might notice saliva staining and a swelling.
NOSE: If a grass seed has gone up your dog’s nose, you might notice sudden or violent sneezing as well as gagging or coughing.
ELSEWHERE: A grass seed travelling around the body is likely to cause vague symptoms such as a non-healing wound, low energy and an intermittent high temperature.