18/06/2024
You may have seen our dog, Bonnie, wearing some very fetching bright orange ear covers recently, and that is because a couple of weeks ago a grass seed got lodged in her ear drum and needed to be removed under general anaesthetic (the last photo is what the vet removed, and luckily her ear drum is showing signs of healing, not that she listens to us much anyway 😂).
This is the time of year where lots of sharp, pointy grass seeds, sometimes called foxtails, spring up and they can easily get stuck in fur and are sharp enough to burrow through skin.
It’s recommended to check the most common entry points (ears, nostrils, paws, and armpits) after walks, but they can get stuck anywhere, especially if they get caught between the skin and a harness.
If your pet has a grass seed stuck anywhere they will show signs of irritation and discomfort (excess scratching, licking or chewing at the area; head shaking; sneezing; etc). Even if you can’t see a grass seed but your pet is in discomfort a vet check is advisable. I checked Bonnies ear straight away on our walk but couldn’t see the seed as it had immediately gone down far enough to burst the ear drum.
If, while out with us, your dog shows any signs of having picked up a grass seed we will check them over and remove it if we can do so safely, and let you know.
