We are seeing lots of dogs affected by grass seeds at the moment. Grass seeds act like small arrowheads and can get caught in a dog’s fur (the paws are the main site), or can enter a dog’s ear or even nose. They can burrow into the skin, potentially causing pain, swelling and infection.
Pablo is one such recent patient (pictured above with his lovely owner). Pablo is a 7 year old Pomeranian who presented to us with sudden onset sneezing and irritation after being seen sniffing grass. After failing to improve with some anti-inflammatory medication we proceeded to have him in for an anaesthetic for further investigation. Vet Jemma used a tiny endoscope (camera) to look inside Pablo’s nasal cavity, where she saw the offending grass seed and was able to retrieve it. We imagine Pablo felt a lot better waking up with the seed removed!
Grass seed after removal
Endoscope image showing the grass seed inside Pablo’s nose
Try to check your dog over after walks in meadows, woodlands or grassy areas and remove any seeds from their fur. It is especially important to check between the toes and around the ears. Signs of a problem may include a sore foot, or sudden onset head-shaking and ear irritation if the seed is down the ear. Veterinary treatment is recommended – usually once embedded, sedation is required to find and remove the offending seed.