Dog owners who let pets walk in long grass need to do important check

A vet has issued a warning to dog owners who allow their pets to walk in long grass.

While dogs often enjoy the softness of grass under their paws and the range of scents it offers, there are some dangers. UK-based small animal vet Ben, who regularly shares pet health information and expert advice, recently highlighted the risks posed by grass seeds in a TikTok video.

In his video, he urged those who walk their dogs in long grass, particularly at this time of year, to thoroughly check their pets for these “nasty little things.” He pointed out the various places where vets often find grass seeds lodged in dogs, including their eyes, ears, paws, lungs, armpits, spine, and nasal cavity.

Ben elaborated: “They have sharp tips which mean they can easily penetrate skin or other tissue and their streamlined shape means they can migrate or move around some distance inside the body.” He shared that he had treated a patient who required a lung lobe removal due to grass seeds, and others who developed abscesses in their back muscles as a result of migrating grass seeds.

He also noted that “many patients need multiple surgeries to locate grass seeds because they can be so hard to find.” The animal expert urges owners to be “a little paranoid” about grass seeds.

He mentioned that whilst it is extremely uncommon to find grass seeds in a dog’s spine, according to him, it “has been documented”. PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity, has provided further information about grass seeds in dogs.

The charity agrees with Ben that it is important to check your dog for grass seeds after it has been running through long grass. It states that grass seeds “might look small and harmless” but can cause “a great deal of trouble” if they end up in “the wrong place.”

The pet help resource adds: “Eyes, ears and toes are common places to find a grass seed, and if they aren’t removed, they often find a way to get under the skin. Once a grass seed is under the skin, it’s possible for it to start migrating around the body, at which point they often cause problems and prove difficult to find.”

PDSA advises owners to remove any grass seeds they find whilst checking their dog, particularly between the toes, around the armpits and near the eyes. If you discover a grass seed stuck in your dog or a wound or swelling that looks like it could contain one, the charity urges you to book an appointment with your vet.

It elaborates: “It’s important to remove grass seeds quickly, because their pointy shape enables them to pierce through skin, enter the body and travel around causing problems such as infections and abscesses.” The PDSA has detailed the signs of grass seeds in dogs.

For instance, if a dog has a grass seed lodged in its ear, it may scratch excessively or shake its head. If a dog has a grass seed trapped behind its eyelid, it’s likely to result in a “painful, weepy eye”. Also, if a dog has a grass seed wedged between its toes, it might lick or nibble its paw excessively and over time, you might notice “saliva staining and a swelling.”