Grass seeds and dogs: Signs to watch for this spring

Spring means longer days, warmer weather and more opportunities to get outside with your dog. But as grass grows, flowers and begins producing seed, it also brings a seasonal hazard that can be surprisingly easy to miss: grass seeds.

Australian veterinary clinics commonly see an increase in grass seed problems through spring and summer. Seeds can attach themselves to a dog’s coat before becoming lodged between the toes, under the skin or inside sensitive areas such as the ears, nose and eyes.

The problem is their shape. Many troublesome grass seeds have a sharp point and barbed structure that allows them to move forwards through fur or tissue much more easily than they can move back out. Once a seed begins working its way into the body, it may cause irritation, inflammation, infection and, in some cases, an abscess that requires veterinary treatment.

Knowing what to look for can help you spot a possible grass seed problem early.

Why are grass seeds more of a concern in spring?

Spring creates the perfect conditions for grass growth, and as grasses mature and begin seeding, dogs have more opportunities to pick them up while walking, running or sniffing through grassy areas.

Parks, nature strips, bushland, fields and even the backyard can all contain grass seeds. Once the grasses become longer and begin drying out, seeds can easily detach and catch on a dog’s coat as they brush past.

Vetwest notes that grass seed-related problems increase as the weather warms during spring and summer, with seeds commonly becoming lodged between the toes and in the ears, nostrils and eyes.

Dogs that enjoy charging through long grass may be particularly exposed, but even an ordinary neighbourhood walk can be enough to pick one up.

Where can grass seeds become lodged?

Grass seeds can cause problems almost anywhere on a dog’s body, but vets regularly find them:

• between the toes and around the paws
• underneath the skin
• inside the ear canal
• around or underneath the eyelids
• inside the nose
• around the armpits and groin
• caught within longer or thicker coats.

Because a seed may disappear beneath the skin or deep inside an ear or nose, you will not necessarily be able to see it. Often, a change in your dog’s behaviour is the first clue.

Here are some of the signs worth watching for this spring.

Persistent licking or chewing

One of the earliest signs can be your dog repeatedly licking or chewing the same spot.

Grass seeds frequently become caught between the toes or within fur before penetrating the skin. Once irritation starts, your dog may keep returning to the area because it feels uncomfortable, itchy or painful.

Pay particular attention if your dog suddenly begins licking one paw much more than the others. Check between the toes, around the pads and through the surrounding fur.

Greencross Vets notes that dogs may chew at an area where grass seeds have attached to the skin, while grass seeds that travel underneath the skin can cause infection, pain and tissue damage.

Persistent licking shouldn’t automatically be assumed to be a grass seed — allergies, wounds and other skin problems can cause similar behaviour — but during grass seed season it is one possibility worth considering.

Sudden limping

A dog that was happily running around one minute and begins limping shortly afterwards may have injured their paw — and a grass seed can be one possible cause.

The spaces between a dog’s toes are particularly vulnerable. A seed may become trapped in the fur and then pierce the skin as the dog walks, gradually moving deeper.

You might notice your dog:

• holding one paw off the ground
• walking differently
• stopping frequently during a walk
• resisting having the paw touched
• licking the foot repeatedly.

Tooronga Veterinary Hospital lists limping and persistent paw licking among the common signs associated with grass seeds.

Even if you cannot see anything obvious, ongoing or sudden lameness is worth having checked by your veterinarian.

Swelling or redness

As a grass seed irritates the tissue around it, the affected area may become red, swollen or tender.

This is particularly common around the paws and between the toes, but grass seeds can penetrate other areas of the skin as well.

You might initially see a small bump before the area becomes increasingly inflamed. In some cases, an abscess can develop as the body reacts to the foreign material.

Thornbury Veterinary Hospital advises that migrating seeds can cause painful infections, swelling and discharge and may sometimes need to be removed surgically.

If an area looks increasingly swollen or painful, don’t keep squeezing or probing it yourself. A seed may already have moved deeper beneath the surface.

Ear scratching

Sudden, persistent ear scratching is another important sign to watch for.

A grass seed can enter the ear while a dog runs through vegetation or lowers their head to sniff. Once inside the ear canal, the seed can cause considerable irritation.

Your dog might:

• repeatedly scratch one ear
• rub the side of their head against the floor or furniture
• hold one ear differently
• become sensitive when you touch around the ear.

Grass seeds are a recognised cause of ear problems, particularly during spring and summer. Vetwest advises that foreign bodies such as grass seeds can contribute to inflammation and infection within the ear.

Because the ear canal is difficult to inspect properly at home, veterinary examination is generally the safest approach if you suspect something is lodged inside.

Head shaking

A few head shakes after a bath or swim are perfectly normal. Repeated or aggressive head shaking is different.

When a grass seed becomes lodged in an ear canal, your dog may shake their head continuously in an attempt to dislodge it.

Unfortunately, the seed’s shape can make that difficult. Persistent head shaking can also create additional problems, including trauma to the ear.

Vetwest lists a grass seed or other foreign body inside the ear canal as one potential cause of persistent head shaking and recommends veterinary assessment when the behaviour continues.

If the head shaking starts suddenly after a walk through long grass, it is particularly worth investigating.

A small wound or discharge

Sometimes the only visible sign of a grass seed under the skin is surprisingly small.

You might notice a tiny hole, scab or wound between your dog’s toes or elsewhere on their body. There may also be clear fluid, blood or pus coming from the area.

That little wound can potentially be an entry or drainage point from a deeper problem.

Veterinary guidance from Dogs Victoria notes that grass seed infections can sometimes burst through the skin and leave a small hole. Importantly, seeing an opening doesn’t necessarily mean the seed itself has come out.

A repeatedly swollen or discharging spot therefore deserves veterinary attention rather than simply waiting for the surface wound to disappear.

Squinting or closing an eye

Grass seeds around the eyes need particular attention.

A seed can become caught on the surface of the eye, underneath an eyelid or behind a dog’s third eyelid. The eye is extremely sensitive, so signs can appear quickly.

You may notice:

• squinting
• keeping one eye closed
• excessive tears
• redness
• eye discharge
• rubbing or pawing at the face.

Greencross Vets advises that a grass seed between the eye and eyelid can cause redness, inflammation, tears or discharge and may damage the cornea.

Dogs Victoria similarly advises that sudden squinting or rubbing at the eye can indicate a grass seed and that rubbing may cause further damage.

Eye problems can deteriorate quickly, so a suddenly painful, closed or irritated eye should be assessed promptly by a veterinarian.

Sneezing

Everyone sneezes occasionally — dogs included. But sudden, persistent sneezing, particularly after sniffing through grass, can be a sign that something has entered the nose.

Dogs explore much of their world nose-first, putting their nostrils close to grass and vegetation. A seed can be inhaled or become lodged within the nasal passage.

Other signs can include:

• repeated sneezing fits
• rubbing or pawing at the nose
• nasal discharge
• obvious irritation around one side of the nose.

AdelaideVet describes grass seeds as a frequent nasal foreign body during the warmer spring and summer months and documented a case in which persistent sneezing led to the discovery of a grass seed lodged deep within a dog’s nostril.

Trying to retrieve something deep inside a dog’s nose yourself can cause injury, so persistent symptoms should be checked by your vet.

What should you do if you think your dog has a grass seed?

If a loose grass seed is simply sitting on top of your dog’s coat, removing it before it becomes embedded is useful. However, once a seed has penetrated the skin or entered an eye, ear or nose, it may be much more difficult to locate and remove.

Depending on where it has travelled, veterinary treatment can range from examination and removal through to sedation, anaesthesia or surgery. Greencross Vets notes that locating seeds underneath the skin can be difficult and sedation or anaesthesia may sometimes be required.

Rather than digging into a swollen paw, ear or wound yourself, speak with your veterinarian. Prompt assessment can give them a better chance of locating the seed before it moves further.

Make the post-walk check part of your spring routine

Prevention isn’t always possible, especially with dogs that love exploring, but a quick check after time outdoors can help.

During spring and summer:

Check the paws. Run your fingers between each toe and examine the pads and surrounding fur.

Look around the ears. Check the outside of the ear and surrounding coat for seeds, but don’t insert anything into the ear canal.

Check the face. Look around the eyes, muzzle and nose.

Feel through the coat. Pay extra attention to longer hair, as well as the armpits, chest, belly and groin.

Keep grooming regular. Removing seeds caught in the coat before they reach the skin can reduce the chance of them causing problems.

Be cautious around long, dry grass. Where possible, choose maintained paths and shorter grass during peak grass seed season.

Vetwest and Greencross Vets both recommend checking pets carefully after grassy adventures, particularly between the toes and around the ears, eyes and coat.

Be ready for the unexpected this spring

Spring should be about getting outside and enjoying more adventures with your dog — not worrying about every patch of grass they run through.

But grass seeds are a good reminder of how quickly a seemingly small problem can turn into an unexpected vet visit. A tiny seed may require anything from a straightforward veterinary examination to sedation, anaesthesia or a more involved procedure depending on where it becomes lodged and how far it has travelled.

Regular checks and early veterinary attention can help, but not every accident or illness can be prevented.

That’s where having CoverMy Pet Insurance in place before something happens can make a difference. Cover can help with eligible veterinary costs when the unexpected happens, allowing you to focus on getting your dog the care they need rather than being caught completely off guard by the bill.

So while you’re getting ready for spring walks, park trips and weekends outdoors, consider making pet cover part of your seasonal preparation too.

Because sometimes the smallest things can lead to a surprisingly big vet visit.