A leading Northampton vet is urging dog and cat owners to be wary of the dangers lurking in fields and meadows from grass seeds.<\/p>\n
Lisa Bond, Clinical Director at Spinney Vets, in Northampton, said they have seen a number of cases where grass seeds have embedded themselves in between the dog\u2019s toes, or have managed to work themselves inside their ear canals causing head shaking.<\/p>\n
The embedded seeds will cause pain initially, but could develop into uncomfortable swellings which may become infected.<\/p>\n
Lisa said: \u201cGrass seeds are one of the most common problems encountered by dogs in the summer months especially after a hot, dry spell when the grass in the fields has not been cut. We have already dealt with several cases.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne poor dog came to us with about 50 of them embedded in his fur around his feet and armpit areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost dogs like nothing more than to roll around in the grass on a sunny day but unfortunately these seeds can cause huge problems for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemoving them can also be a time-consuming process, as the entry wound may need to be explored under general anaesthetic before crocodile forceps, and saline flushes are used to try and find the seed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been cases of seeds burrowing through the skin and travelling as far as the chest or spine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you think your dog may have a problem caused by a grass seed, you should contact your vet immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lisa has advised owners to check the fur around their dog\u2019s feet and ears after a walk and to keep the feathery fur between their toes trimmed to help avoid the seeds from becoming snagged.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A leading Northampton vet is urging dog and cat owners to be wary of the dangers lurking in fields and meadows from grass seeds. Lisa Bond, Clinical Director at Spinney… <\/p>\n