Grass seeds are a summertime nightmare for owners and veterinarians alike, whilst they look very pretty swaying on top of the long grass they are cause of innumerable infections and abscesses every year. A lot of owners are unaware that whilst your dog is running through the tall grass, every awn is at risk of getting stuck in some nook or cranny and is ready to be the cause of infection and inflammation. Thankfully this does not happen to every dog, and if you make sure to inspect your dog after each walk then you should be able to avoid any problems related to grass seeds.
What problems can grass seeds cause my dog?
Grass seeds mainly cause problems by getting stuck in places they shouldn’t. The most common place for grass seeds to get stuck is in a dog’s paw, and often once this happens their paw will swell and become uncomfortable, sometimes causing a limp, and they will lick or chew at their paw making it sore from the outside. Upon closer inspection you will be able to find either a grass seed stuck in the skin but not yet underneath, or you will find an entry wound that is discharging pus. In some cases when the pain has been going on a little longer, the skin may have had enough time to heal over, however the swelling and pain will still be present.
The other most common way to find a grass seed is stuck in a dog’s ear, and when this happens your dog will be very irritated and unable to settle, they will be shaking their head constantly, and may hold their ear down or have a slight head tilt. Other than causing a large amount of irritation in the ear, grass seeds will also cause infections to form, often resulting in a smelly brown discharge from your dog’s ear.
Whilst ears and paws are most common, grass seeds can enter the skin anywhere, particularly if there is thick fur or a harness overlying the area, for example in the chest area. The same pain and inflammation of the area will occur, as will the discharge if it becomes infected.
How are grass seeds treated?
If caught early enough there may need to be no other treatment than removing the grass seed, particularly if it hasn’t entered the skin completely. If the grass seed has entered the skin then removal is the main form of treatment, whether that be straight away or after your dog has had some anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. In some cases your dog may need to be sedated or have a general anaesthetic to remove the grass seeds, as they can bury quite deep under the skin and removal can be very painful. Once the grass seeds have been removed your dog will likely go home with some anti-inflammatories and antibiotics to ensure that the wound left over by the grass seed heals properly.
What if a grass seed gets left behind?
In some cases animals have large amounts of grass seeds enter their skin at the same time, and if these are not picked up right away then there is the potential that some of them will be left under the skin. If there are grass seeds left under the skin for any length of time, they will continue to migrate through the body because of their shape, often ending up in unusual places! In some cases they will form abscesses in between layers of muscles, or they may make their way into the chest or abdomen. In these circumstances your dog will often seem unwell otherwise, as they will usually have a fever and may show other signs of illness.
Due to the small and mobile nature of the grass seeds, advanced imaging including CT scans and ultrasound are the best methods of finding grass seeds that have migrated, and once they have been found surgical removal is usually the preferred method. If the grass seed has made it’s way into the chest cavity for example, then surgery to remove it will be a major procedure for your dog to go through, so both from a health and cost perspective, it is well worth stopping these grass seeds before they manage to get to this point.
How can I prevent grass seeds from causing my dog a problem?
The best way from preventing your dog from falling foul of a grass seed is to closely inspect them after each walk, and this is even more important if your dog has a long or thick coat. Checking the main areas that are prone to picking up grass seeds, including the paws, lower limbs, and chest region, will allow you to remove any threatening grass seeds and ensure that they do not cause your pet a problem. Dogs that have any mats are even more prone to grass seeds getting stuck in them, and so keeping your pet well groomed is very useful in this process. Thankfully the grass seeds are relatively easy to see sticking in your pet’s fur, I have found a few stuck in my dogs back paw after our last few walks!
The other way to try and reduce your dog from encountering grass seeds is by avoiding areas with lots of grass seeds, and particularly areas of long grass. It may still be worthwhile checking your dog’s paws after walks even if you only walk in areas of short grass, as if it has recently been cut the grass seeds will still be lurking.