Nonetheless, some grasses are undoubtedly better for homes with dogs than others. So if your dog gets enough greens in his diet and he looks like he’s feeling fine … he may just be in the mood to chew and bite. Every vet you ask will have a 'grass seed horror story', of that one that got away and caused life-threatening damage, or even death, of a pet. Eating Grass Is Natural For Your Dog. My German Shepherd dog tore the yard apart, leaving mud spots in high traffic areas and brown spots from dog urine. But fear not; pet-friendly grass seeds do indeed exist. My dog ate fertilizer and grass seed mix. ANSWER: It is grass seed season again! Your dog will often show marked head shaking, pawing at the ear and their face, creating hotspots which are areas of sore skin on the side of their face and potentially going off food, feeling lethargic and holding their head to one side. It’s a drought-resistant grass that will work well in yards with dogs. Grass Seed in Dogs As we come in to the spring and summer months, there will no doubt again be a large number of dogs going to the vets in discomfort, only for their owners to be told that the culprit is a grass seed! Running around can be great fun for your dogs, however during the summer months it can cause serious pain and misery for your dog. They look harmless, but they can wedge themselves in your dog’s skin and cause infections. They are sharp, (sometimes) barbed grass seeds which are produced by some specific types of grass. Removing Grass Seeds from a dogs Leg and Paw - Duration: 1:17. Grass seeds may not seem to have much affect on dogs until your dog comes into contact with them. Grass seeds are a common problem during the spring and summer months. If left untreated, grass seeds can cause a whole heap of problems. The seeds have pointed ends and are exceptionally sharp, so they become trapped in your pet’s fur and due to their shape they can only travel in one direction. [1-5] Ears are another very common site for grass seeds. If the grass seed is in the foot or skin, then they will be licking or chewing at the area and there may be a swelling and discharge present. If the grass seeds have penetrated the skin and exploratory surgery is required to locate and remove the seeds, recovery could take several weeks to months in the most severe cases. The study from rural NSW actually found that 47% of dogs with grass seeds coming to see a general vet, actually had the grass seed stuck in their ear. Here are a few simple tips that will help you keep your grass looking good and your dog … 1:17. Wild dogs like wolves and coyotes do it too. The most common site of attachment is in the hair between the toes. What should I do? Dogs are carnivores so their occasional habit of chewing grass can seem strange. The seeds from many varieties, such as barley grass and wild oats, cause many problems to dogs and cats exercising where the grass is not regularly mowed. It’s soft to the touch, it doesn’t present any serious toxicity issues, and–as long as you mow it on a reasonably frequent schedule–it’s unlikely to harbor many ticks or other pests. A grass seed in the ear might make your dog shake their head, cry out in pain, hold their head to one side or scratch at their ear. Please be aware of the signs, such as in Ruby's case there was a lot of sneezing, and call us as soon as possible if you suspect your dog may have a grass seed. A grass seed that is seen on the surface of your dog’s fur is easily removable, but if you notice the grass seed has burrowed its way into the skin or if you think you dog has a grass seed in their eye or ear, contact your local Goddard Veterinary Practice immediately. - Answered by a verified Dog Veterinarian. The seeds can get into your dog’s ear canals and cause extreme irritation. Grass seed in particular might be a worrying concept. Hi, I have a one year old siberian husky. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. I knew fertilizer was bad but I didn't think grass seed would be. As the animal moves the seed is propelled forward into the space between the toes, where it can quickly penetrate the skin. Grass seeds can cause havoc in the body. Our dogs appreciate our lawns as much as we do, though for different reasons. Grass seeds are arrow shaped with pointy ends and act like hooks so that they can easily attach themselves to your dog’s fur and pierce the skin. If you think they may have a grass seed stuck somewhere in their body, or they are displaying some strange behaviour, take them to the vet before it becomes too late to do anything about it. Make sure to check your dog’s body thoroughly for grass seeds after every walk, and take note of anything that looks unusual or any different behaviour your dog may be exhibiting. When people see them in their dog’s fur, they sometimes don’t realise how important it is to remove them. I need a hardy, durable dog resistant grass for my lawn. This grass has very thick blades which make it … They can also travel within the body making it a lot harder for them to be removed. What problems can grass seeds cause dogs? A very limited study did conclude that dogs appear to have no preference between Kikuyu and couch but the reality is your dog is most unlikely to eat enough grass to do serious damage to your lawn. Whether you call them awns, mean seeds, timothy, foxtails, cheat grass, June grass, Downy Brome, or any other number of colloquial names, to dogs they generally mean one thing, and that’s trouble. But here’s a word of caution … Grass Seed in a Dog's Ear - Duration: 1:02. Potential Complications: Grass seeds lodged in the ear canal can cause ear infection, rupture of the ear drum, loss of hearing or balance and even death if infection reaches the brain. While we mostly love our lawns for their looks, our canine pals enjoy them as a place to run, play, roll on their backs, and do their business. While your pet explores the outdoors, grass seed can easily brush off the tops of long grass stems onto their bodies. Grass seeds that enter the vagina frequently end up in the bladder and cause a bladder infection. Monitoring Dogs should be monitored for signs of illness which may indicate that not all of the grass seeds … 3. These nasty little awns can cause a lot of discomfort to your dog, and frustration for your vet and groomer. Waverley Animal Hospital 13,972 views. Jonathan Green Kentucky Tall Fescue Grass Seed, 25-Pound is a great mix of seed of Tall Fescue, which is a grass that is known to be very good at standing up to high traffic. Grass seeds can be easily picked up by dogs and can cause serious damage if not treated quickly and properly. Why because of the dreaded grass seed, these can lodge in the dog’s skin on all parts of the body, which in turn causes painful problems such as abscesses and infections. Bermuda grass is one of the best grass varieties for resisting dog urine, and it’s also fairly resilient when it comes to wear and tear from foot traffic. Regular grooming and excessive hair trimming – Grooming your dog may catch any seeds before they can do harm, and occasionally trimming excessive hair around the paws, ears, and arm pits can prevent the seed from latching on in the first place. If they are not removed and able to penetrate the skin, they cause significant pain and irritation to the dog. An awn is a hairy, or bristle -like, appendage growing from the ear or flower of barley, rye, and many types of widely growing grasses. Grass Seeds and Dogs The dreaded grass seeds. Question: What is the best grass seed for dogs? the dangers of grass seeds to dogs and cats. Grass awns burrow into the dog’s skin causing pain to the animal. The two most common places they are found are in the ears and in the paws but they can be found in other places and up the nose too. If you have the kind of dog or other pet who doubles as a living vacuum cleaner and eats everything in sight, you may find yourself wondering whether or not ingesting grass seeds will do anything harmful to them. Generally speaking, grass is a great groundcover for dogs. Grass seed is, perhaps surprisingly, a fairly big cause of emergency admissions to veterinary hospitals and clinics in the spring and summer.The see ds typically fall off long grass and embed themselves in a dog’s paws, ears, armpits, tail, or skin, sometimes causin g painful wounds and infections. His outdoor pen has become very muddy lately so my boyfriend scattered grass seed through out and then watered it. I have considered artificial grass but really don’t want a fake lawn. Grass satisfies that need. Bermuda grass needs plenty of sun, and it grows quickly, which increases maintenance needs—you may have to maintain Bermuda grass … Grass awns can be inhaled, swallowed and even penetrate the dog’s skin. Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance is a unique new product that has been formulated to banish the problem of yellow patches and dead areas of grass caused by dogs urinating on lawns. If the grass seed is down the ear, then your dog will shake their head or try to rub at their ear. Grass seeds: Seemingly innocent but unequivocally dangerous and potentially lethal, these little brutes can easily get caught on your pet's fur and embed themselves to their skin very quickly. A new grass seed mix that has been scientifically proven to resist damage caused by dog urine is being exclusively introduced by Johnsons Lawn Seed. But looking online I am seeing it is a bigger deal than what I thought? By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our … Bonniedogsuk 70,854 views. Grass Seed And Dogs Grass seed and dog safety Grass seeds are very common in the summer, and they can cause big problems for dogs. Bermuda grass is the best choice for planting in dog high-traffic areas in warm-season areas, and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pretensis), a perennial in USDA zones 2 through 6, holds up better in cool-season areas. Grass eating is normal dog behavior. Grass awns are just one of the many danger your dog is exposed to when he or she is outdoors. Avoid areas with long grass – Walking in areas where the grass has been cut short reduces the risk of grass seeds – this includes your own garden. Is it harmful to him? We don’t know exactly why they do it but it is perfectly normal and nothing to be concerned about. 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