LWDG Summertime Series: Dealing With Dreaded Grass Seeds Through Summer

Grass Seeds are the tiny enemy we all dread throughout the summer months.

Most grass seeds seem to find their way between our dog’s toes, into their ears, sometimes in their eyes, and into their nose or mouth too. In fact, any part of their body is at risk of puncturing.

Dogs love to run through long grass, so it’s important to check them for grass seeds every time. Once a grass seed finds its way into your dog’s body, they are far harder to find. A grass seed won’t normally show up on x-rays and can travel far throughout the dog causing inflammation, infection and abscesses.

Grass Seed can travel as far as your dog’s lungs and depending on the distance travelled, they may require a CT scan to locate. Due to how quickly it travels, a suspected grass seed problem should be seen by your vet.

Grass Seeds: What To Look Out For:

• Warning signs to watch out for on feet include paw licking, especially after a walk. You may also see a red raised ‘boil’ that the dog has been licking for a day or two.
• Warning signs to watch out for with ears includes the sudden onset of head shaking. Due to their ear shape, spaniel breeds and crosses are the most commonly affected breeds, however, grass seeds can get into any dog’s ears.
•  Other symptoms to look out for include swelling in an area, sometimes accompanied by puss. You could also possibly see a puncture wound or something as simple as your dog is off its food.

Seeds To Look Out For

Many seeds can cause problems, but one seed to definitely look out for is the Foxtail. Similar looking to wheat, Meadow foxtail occurs throughout the UK. It is most abundant in low-lying areas, river valleys, wetlands or in old meadows on moist soils.

When dogs encounter the seed-heads, their barbs cause them to become irreversibly lodged and will penetrate just about anywhere.

How To Minimise Grass Seed Concerns

• Regular brushing is incredibly important, especially with long-coated or curly-coated dogs.
• Keep dog’s paws and ear hair trimmed regularly so that the seeds don’t have as much to attach to.
• Make sure to feel between your dog’s paw pads for caught seeds. If you don’t feel confident trimming your dog, ask a groomer to do this for you.
• A flea comb works quite well for getting the seeds out close to the skin, and any thorns in the winter after working.
• Make sure to groom their entire body, and check-in any of their skin folds,  their belly and limb joints.

LWDG Summertime Series: Keeping your dog safe during the summertime months

The summertime months are a great time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather with your dog. However, it’s important to take some precautions to keep your furry friend safe. Heatstroke (article here) , is a real danger for dogs, so be sure to provide plenty of water and shade when you’re out and about. You should also be careful of sunburn, especially on short-haired breeds. We also have an older post here Stopping Your Restless Working Dog From Overheating

If you’re hiking or walking in long grass, be on the lookout for grass seeds (article on this here), which can cause irritation and even infection. And finally, be aware that adder bites are more common in the summer months (article on this here), If you suspect your dog has been bitten, seek medical attention immediately. By taking some simple steps, you can help ensure that your dog enjoys a safe and fun summer.

Want to add to this article? Let us know in the comments below about how grass seeds have affected your dog and any advice you have for readers.

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