11/08/2026
🌾 Grass seeds: small, but not harmless! 🐾
Grass seed season is here, and while they may look tiny, these little seeds can cause some big problems for our pets.
One of our lovely patients recently came to see us after her owner noticed irritation in her ear and excessive head shaking. On first look, there was nothing obvious to see, but when we examined her ear with an otoscope, we found a grass seed lodged deep within the ear canal. 👂🌱
She was safely sedated so we could carefully remove the seed, and thankfully, she is now on the road to recovery. ❤️
Grass seeds can become lodged in ears, paws, eyes, noses, and between toes, and their shape means they can work their way deeper into the skin and tissues rather than coming back out easily.
🐶 Signs to look out for include:
• Excessive head shaking or ear scratching
• Licking or chewing at paws
• Sudden limping
• Redness, swelling, or irritation
• Sneezing or nasal discharge
• Squinting or rubbing at an eye
If your pet is showing any of these signs after being out in long grass, it’s worth getting them checked by your vet. Grass seeds aren't always visible from the outside, as this little patient demonstrated!
🌿 A quick check of your pet after walks, particularly around their ears, paws, between their toes and in their coat, can help spot problems early.
Stay safe out there, everyone, and keep those grass seeds at bay! 🐾💚
