At Tauranga Vets, we see many cases involving grass seeds, especially during the summer months from December onward. We frequently have dogs coming in with owners concerned about limping or licking certain areas of their body, most commonly between their toes. This is often where grass seeds get lodged after a dog runs through the grassy dunes at the beach.
Grass seeds are sneaky little things! They get caught in the fur and can burrow into the skin, creating tiny tunnels as they move deeper.
In many cases, we need to sedate our patients so we can safely lance the skin, locate the grass seed and remove it. While sometimes it’s just one seed, we’ve found up to 20 in a single dog! Even just one seed can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for our furry friends. If left untreated, they can lead to inflammation, infection and potentially more serious issues.
So what can you do to prevent this? We recommend avoiding grassy dunes at the beach during the summer when possible. If that’s not an option, make sure to thoroughly check your dog’s coat, especially around their ears and paws, after trips to the beach or any time they’ve been running through long grass. Remove any grass seeds trapped in their fur before they burrow into the skin.
Keeping your dog’s coat short in summer can also help, especially by trimming their paws.
By staying on top of it, you can help prevent grass seeds from causing your dog any unnecessary pain. If you’re ever concerned or notice anything unusual, don’t hesitate to contact us!