With the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a long hot dry summer, it is important to remember that grass seeds can give your pet a lot of grief. Grass seeds present in all shapes and sizes and can strike at any time of a year. It is not unheard of pet getting a grass seed in the ear in the middle of the winter.
Dogs and cats with long shaggy coats are more likely to get them then short coated breeds. Many of these guys are not keen on grooming and the visit to the groomer is scheduled a month to two down the track. Grass seeds can be sometimes really hard to see and it does not take too long until they burry themselves into flesh causing pain and discomfort.
The most common locations for grass seed to be found are between the toes, inside the ears and under the eye lids because dogs and cats spend lots of time outdoors sniffing around. The other more exotic locations are inside the nostrils, tonsils, armpits and groins; around anus and even in urethra….The symptoms will depend on the location of the grass seed. Lameness, swollen paw, a small bubble with a draining hole between the toes are very common findings. Shaking head, sneezing, bloody nasal discharge, difficulties swallowing, squinting and weepy eyes can also be noticed.
It is needless to say that finding the grass seed and removing them surgically can be painful for your pet and your pocket. Sometimes they are impossible to find and these cases are particularly heart breaking because if they are not removed the problem will keep coming back. Another possible complication is that your pet may develop tetanus which is a very unpleasant disease for your pet and often can be unsuccessful to treat.
What can you do to avoid this problem this year?
- Make your pet “Bold and Beautiful”. Short coat will make it a fair bit easier to find the nasty little things
- Check your pet daily with special attention to the above mentioned areas.
- Brushing also helps as well as regular bath
- If you see something that could be a grass seed please take it to your vet. The grass seed will often keep going deeper and deeper and it will be harder and more expensive to remove
- Avoid walking your pet in the parks with many grass seeds, stick to pedestrian paths
- Cut your grass short before it flowers and keep it short.
Vets4Pets Team