Grass Seeds: The Tiny Spring Hazard That Causes Big Vet Bills

Grass seeds look harmless, but from spring into summer they are one of the more common reasons dogs end up at the vet. As grasses dry out and seed, those sharp little awns catch in your dog's coat and work their way in. Their barbed shape means they only travel one way, deeper, and they cannot reverse out on their own.

Where they cause trouble:

• Between the toes and in the paws, a very common spot
• Down the ear canal
• In the eyes, nose and skin
• Occasionally migrating deeper into the body

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Signs to watch for:

• Licking or chewing at a paw, or a red, swollen lump with a weepy hole
• Sudden head shaking or scratching at one ear
• Squinting or a weepy, irritated eye
• Sudden bouts of violent sneezing
• Limping or favouring one leg

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How to protect your dog:

• Check your dog all over after every walk, especially between the toes and around the ears
• Trim long hair around the feet and ears to reduce the funnelling effect
• Keep your lawn mown and avoid long, seeding grass on walks

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Caught early, a grass seed can sometimes be removed quickly. Left alone, it can require sedation or surgery to find and remove, which is where costs add up. Agriculture Victoria gives the same warning in its advice for working dogs, which applies just as well in the suburbs: a seed that travels down the ear canal can embed so deeply that removing it needs sedation or a general anaesthetic, and a seed ignored in the foot can leave a dog permanently lame. If your dog is showing any of these signs, do not wait, as the seed will keep moving.

If you suspect a grass seed, Caring Paws can examine your dog and remove it safely before it causes further problems.