11/01/2026
🌾 Grass Seed Season is Here – A Painful Reminder 🌾
With warmer weather and dry paddocks, grass seed season is well and truly underway in New Zealand. These small seeds might look harmless, but they can cause serious pain and infection for our pets.
📸 The photos above show a dog presented with a tightly shut, painful eye.
On examination, we found three grass seeds lodged behind the third eyelid, along with a superficial corneal ulcer caused by the constant rubbing and irritation. Once removed and treated, the eye was able to heal — but it was extremely uncomfortable for the dog.
👀 Eyes are one of the most common places we see grass seeds, but they can also lodge in:
Ears – causing head shaking, pain, discharge
Between toes – leading to swelling, licking, abscesses
Armpits and groin
Nose – sudden sneezing, nasal discharge
Skin – migrating seeds can cause deep infections
⚠️ Signs to watch for:
Squinting or holding an eye shut
Red, watery, or discharge from the eye
Sudden head shaking or ear pain
Limping or constant licking of a paw
Swellings that don’t settle
Sudden sneezing or nasal discharge
⏰ Early treatment matters.
The longer a grass seed is left, the deeper it can migrate — making treatment more complicated and painful.
🐾 Our advice:
Check your dog daily, especially after walks or farm work
Pay extra attention to eyes, ears, paws, and armpits
If something doesn’t seem right, don’t wait — get it checked
Grass seeds are small, but the problems they cause can be big. If you’re worried about your pet, give us a call — we’re always happy to help.
