The risks and dangers of grass seeds for dogs

Grass seeds, while small and seemingly harmless, can pose significant dangers to dogs. These tiny seeds – particularly from plants like foxtails, barley and ryegrass – are designed by nature to burrow into the soil to germinate.

Unfortunately, this barbed design also allows them to easily embed in a dog’s fur, skin, ears, eyes and nose. And they can even migrate to the internal organs. This can lead to numerous health problems.

By and large, they can usually be straightforward to locate and remove. But occasionally there’ll be that one tract that just will not heal. This might mean a trip to the vet, but then another abscess appearing several days after the end of the antibiotics.

Here we’ll look at the risks of grass seeds, and some of the claims we’ve seen along the way.

To cover your furry pal for seasonal pet visits, look into peace-of-mind dog insurance. Also, find out more about keeping your dog cool during hot weather.

How grass seeds can affect dogs

Grass seeds can attach to a dog’s fur during walks or playtime, particularly in grassy or overgrown areas. Their sharp, barbed structure means they move in only one direction – forward. So once a seed pierces the skin or enters a body cavity, it continues to migrate deeper, causing discomfort, pain and potentially more severe health issues.

Where the grass seeds get in

●       Paws. Grass seeds often get lodged between a dog’s toes or in the pads of their feet. If left unchecked, they can penetrate the skin, leading to painful abscesses and infections.

●       Ears. Dogs with floppy ears or long fur are particularly vulnerable to grass seeds entering the ear canal. This can cause intense irritation and ear infections. Keep an eye out for your dog shaking their head vigorously.

●       Eyes. Grass seeds can easily get caught in a dog’s eyes, leading to redness, swelling, excessive tearing and discomfort.

●       Nose. Dogs that sniff around in grassy areas are at risk of inhaling grass seeds. Once inside the nasal passages, these seeds can cause sneezing, nasal discharge, and potentially migrate to other parts of the respiratory system.

●       Skin. Grass seeds can embed themselves in a dog’s skin, leading to irritation, swelling and infection. If the seed migrates internally, it can cause serious damage to the dog’s organs.

Symptoms of grass seed injuries

As always, detecting lodged grass seeds early is the best way to prevent further complication. Common signs that your dog may have a grass seed injury include:

●       Excessive licking or chewing at a specific area, particularly the paws

●       Swelling or redness, especially between the toes or in the ears

●       Sudden onset of lameness

●       Head shaking or ear scratching

●       Sneezing, nasal discharge or nosebleeds

●       Squinting, tearing or pawing at the eyes

●       Visible wound or abscess

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to take them to the vet as soon as you can. Grass seeds can cause significant harm if left untreated.

Preventing grass seed injuries

Of course, it’s not always possible to completely remove the risk of exposure to grass seeds. But regular grooming and close inspection during and after jaunts outdoors will help. Here are a few tips:

●       Make regular inspections. After walks, thoroughly check your dog’s paws, ears, eyes and coat for any signs of grass seeds. Pay extra attention if you have a long-haired or curly-coated breed.

●       Groom often. Keep your dog’s fur trimmed – especially around the paws, ears and belly – to reduce the risk of seeds getting caught in the coat.

●       Avoid high-risk areas. During peak grass seed season (typically late spring to early autumn), avoid letting your dog run through tall grass or overgrown areas if you can.

●       Kit them out. You could also consider using protective booties or a snood (a fabric covering for the head and ears) for dogs that frequently encounter grassy areas.

Complications with grass seeds

Agria sees many claims for grass seed foreign bodies in the summer months each year.

And those were just the claims where the foreign body was identified. Several of these cases resulted in serious complications when the grass seed had migrated from the skin, ears and nose to internal structures and organs.

Here’s just a few typical claims we’ve handled connected to grass and grass seed…

●       Ludo, a two-year-old Springer Spaniel was seen with a two-week history of general lethargy. On physical examination, a mass on the costal arch was observed. Ultrasound revealed a fluid pocket and, when surgery commenced, it was discovered that damage had been done to the rib where the grass seed had lodged at the costophrenic junction. 

●       Tayto, a three-year-old Cockapoo was taken to his usual vet for pyrexia and lethargy. Antibiotics saw a slight improvement before he deteriorated. Clinical examination observed a soft swelling on the caudal thorax. CT revealed a foreign body caudomedial to the 10th rib at the costochondral junction. The grass seed had migrated from the nasal passages to the lung and had then lodged in the costochondral junction.

●       April, a three-year-old cat was taken to her vet with a grass seed stuck under her upper eyelid. She required a local anaesthetic to remove the seed, leaving a shallow ulcer where the seed had been rubbing on the cornea. Fortunately, due to the rapid removal of the seed, the ulcer resolved rapidly with no scarring. 

Fortunately, under their Agria lifetime policies, all of these owners were able to claim towards the cost of their unexpected treatment. However, had the owners had the opportunity to identify the presence of these grass seeds before they became problematic, they may have been able to remove it from the animal before it was able to migrate.

As an Agria Pet Insurance customer, you can speak to a vet completely free whenever you have a question or concern about your pet’s health. Simply download the Agria app for free 24/7 video calls; giving you expert advice to help keep your pet happy and healthy.

Find out more about the Agria app here.