Grass Seeds
Summer is coming and the grass is drying off. On every day for the next six months we will be removing a grass seed from some part of some pet. While this keeps us employed, it is not appreciated by pet owners and is a cause of great discomfort for our dogs and cats.
The seemingly innocuous grass seed is a well designed spear like foreign body. Ears, eyes, noses and toes are common places to lodge but they can find their way anywhere – and I mean anywhere.
In a recent case a dog inhaled a three headed grass seed. It punctured both lungs before penetrating the abdomen causing a peritoneal abscess. The specialist veterinary bill was over $3000. In another case a dog suffered from septic discospondylitis – an infection of the vertebrae caused by a grass seed that penetrated the skin and lodged in the spine.
Grass seeds have even been known to sprout inside the body. They cannot be broken down by the body defences and never dissolve.
Some breeds of dogs are better grass seed collectors than others. Just ask any Cocker Spaniel owner. 
Molly (pictured) had many visits to the vet – including one where she had a total of three grass seeds removed from both ears. Her owner had a protective cap made which she wears on all her walks. (Caps must be removed at all other times.) Since wearing the cap, Molly has not had any more grass seed problems.
Occasionally in cats a grass seed finds its way into the chest cavity and initiates a very serious infection called pyothorax. The seed causes a serious reaction and the space around the lungs fills with pus. This condition is fatal if not aggressively treated
Prevention is cheaper than cure. There are some things you can do to reduce the chances of your pet becoming a grass seed foreign body sufferer:
1. Avoid walking your dog through fields of long grass.
2. Regularly groom your pet and remove any grass seeds lodged in the coat.
3. Consider a set of boots if your dog is susceptible to grass seeds between the toes.
4. Make a cap to protect the ears during walks.
Finally, if your pet seems to have a grass seed in the ear, don’t pour oil into it! Come in and see us so it can be quickly removed before it penetrates the ear drum.