Grass seeds, are, perhaps surprisingly, a fairly big cause of emergency admissions to many of our hospitals and clinics in the spring and summer.
Also known as grass awns, these backward-pointing barbs, typically fall off long, wild grass, barley and rye, and embed themselves in a dog’s paws, ears, armpits, tail, or skin, sometimes causing painful wounds and infections. In rare cases, grass awns have also been known to burrow under the skin and travel to other parts of the body. All dogs can be affected but the most susceptible are those with feathery toes who enjoy skipping through long grass, such as springer spaniels.
It’s important to remove grass seed from you dog as early as possible. If ignored they can cause a lot of pain and irritation. This is particularly the case if they’ve managed to migrate through the body or lodge themselves in your dog’s lungs. Both scenarios can cause serious infections and may be life-threatening. Seek advice from your vet about safe removal.
Read our article which explains what to do if seeds are lodged in your dog’s paws, ears or skin.
