Local vet urges dog walkers to check their pets for grass seeds
At this time of year grass seeds can cause severe discomfort to pets as they can cut into the animal's paws
A local vet is warning dog walkers about the current dangers of grass seeds
Dog owners are being warned to check for swellings and limps in their pets as seeds can stab into dogs paws, ears and eyes
Vanessa Waite is head vet at The Vet Station in Molesey, she warns this time of year is particularly bad
"If you have a breed such as a cockapoo that has long fur or dangly ears, you've probably seen this or been victim to it before. But there are so many grass seeds around now that we're seeing all breeds coming in with it, even breeds with short fur.
Vets call this grass seed season and there is not a veterinary clinic in the UK right now that does not have a grass seed Olympics chart up on their wall.
So every vet in the clinic takes part and whoever has removed the most grass seeds at the end of grass seed season wins the prize."
Vanessa adds proactively checking after walks is by far the best way to go about protecting your pets
"If you walk your dog in grassy areas, particularly long grass, you must check your dog as soon as you get home because they attach, but they don't go in straight away.
The problem is the seeds are unidirectional, so they can only move in one way. And over time, as your dog moves around, they will start moving into the skin and penetrating and traveling.
So if you check your dog, as soon as you come home and you pick off every single grass seed, you will be safe."
As these grass seeds can penetrate the skin, they can cause immense irritation and pain for a dog, Vanessa warns owners about what signs to look out for in particular
"So you will see signs of pain and that is almost immediately. A limping dog, a dog that's shaking its head and crying in pain and a dog that is constantly winking its eye and it looks like a red swollen painful eye.
They're classic signs of grass seeds. And then the most common place they go in is the pores and you'll usually you will see a swelling there."
Should you notice a pet with these symptoms, Vanessa says swift action is always the best option
"The quicker you get down to the vet, the easier we can solve it. If the grass seed has only just gone in, we are very likely to be able to remove that in a simple consultation without requiring sedation and in some cases surgical procedures.
If it's left longer, because that grass seed is constantly traveling, it is going to be harder to find, it's going to be more painful for your pet and we're going to have to do sedation or an anaesthesia and an exploration to try and find out where that grass seed is."