Grass seeds sowing trouble in your pet

THE warmer weather means it’s time for barbeques and swimming.

However, for your pet it can mean a time of grass seed infections which can cause a lot of pain for your pet and frustration for you.

Grass seeds most commonly imbed into pets’ ears and eyes, up the nose, between the toes, along the belly, or around the bottom.

Depending on where the grass seed is located your pet will show different signs from painful ears, head tilt or head shaking due to irritated ears, snorting and sneezing from the nose, weepy eyes, lameness or small swellings that discharge pus.

Grass seeds require removal as while they sit in the body, whatever the location, they stimulate infection and inflammation.

Often the longer they are left, the harder they are to remove, the more extensive the procedure and treatment required.

Grass seeds left in ears can rupture the ear drum leading to middle ear infections, while grass seeds left untreated in the skin or between the feet

can migrate around the body making them harder to retrieve.

Some things you can do to prevent grass seeds include avoiding long dry grass, clipping long haired dogs to allow for easier detection, checking their feet and brushing the pet daily.

Unfortunately, it is harder to prevent grass seeds in the ears or up the nose but looking for signs can mean earlier intervention and less complications.

If you believe your dog may have a grass seed anywhere on (or in) its body, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your vet.

If you can’t see a grass seed but you have any of the signs above, it’s best to book your pet in to have a vet check as soon as possible.

Most pets will require sedation or a general anaesthetic to allow the vet to explore, remove the grass seed safely and treat the area properly.