Practice News
Grass Seeds Have Arrived !!!Tuesday 20th May, 2008
Grass Seeds - Watch Out!
During the late Spring and early Summer grasses in our parks and woods grow to a great height and they start to release their seeds and this always means a rush of cases into our hospital. In fact from Spring until Autumn every year we see a steady flow of patients that are brought in with a number of different symptoms that can be explained by the presence of grass seeds.
It is amazing how many places a grass seed can hide itself about the body of our pets. Dogs are most commonly affected with seeds finding their way into the ear canal causing head shaking and scratching or sometimes into the eye causing excessive tears, redness and rubbing at the eye. With patients that can be very still, we can sometimes remove these seeds without sedation or anaesthesia but all too often this becomes necessary for safe removal from these sites.
The most frequent site that we find grass seeds is between the toes, usually inside a small abscess. Owners are often unaware that a seed is present and simply bring their pet to us because a small bump has appeared between the toes and there is associated licking and redness. This reaction can be very quick but in some cases it only develops several days after the seed first pierced its way through the skin. Occasionally we can simply lance the area and remove the seed or awn but unfortunately very often it isn’t that simple and a poultice dressing and antibiotics must be used. In some cases sedation or anaesthetic may be required to surgically explore the region to remove it. It has even been known for the seed to track in the soft tissues under the skin and to burst out at a site as much as 30cm away from the entry site. The rule to remember is that if treated promptly there is more chance of a simple procedure solving the problem.
All dog owners should pay attention to this risk and be careful when walking their pets close to long grass as many dogs enjoy bounding through it. The best advice is, if your dog has run through some long grass you should carefully remove any grass seeds or awns that have become attached - this will prevent them from working their way under the skin. Inspect each foot in turn, taking care to look between the toes as this site is particularly susceptible, and also pay special attention to the entry to the ears and around the eyes. If a seed finds its way into the eye or ear it is often immediately obvious by the frenzied reaction of the dog, in these circumstances if it cannot be easily removed you should contact us for assistance.
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