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The Summer Menace
Every year, from June until late Autumn, we treat a lot of dogs with problems related to grass seeds. Grass seeds (grass awns) are difficult to avoid and pose a threat to the health of your dog in a number of ways:
Please contact the surgery if you notice any of the following symptoms that could suggest a grass seed:
Grass awns will cause intense inflammation and infection resulting in scar tissue and cavities full of pus. These ‘foreign body reactions’ are painful and can only be resolved by finding and removing the grass awn. Surgical exploration of these swellings is often performed under general anaesthetic by cutting over the lump and probing until a grass seed can be found. This is sometimes straight-forward but often complicated by a number of factors:
Although it can be very frustrating, it is not uncommon that a grass seed cannot be found where one was strongly suspected. The wounds are purposely left open (bandaged if necessary) to allow drainage. Some swellings will resolve but others will need to be explored a second, or possibly third time before a grass seed can be found.
This will vary greatly between cases and depend on the extent of care that your dog requires. It is possible that what initially appears a minor procedure can develop into a major operation. Even removal of a grass seed from an ear or eye will often require at least a sedation to perform this safely. General anaesthetics will be necessary for surgical exploration of swellings, with the risk that several procedures may be required to resolve the problem. Some grass seeds will need the use of endoscopes and specialist equipment to retrieve them. The vet will be able to estimate the costs involved for you before arranging the procedure. However, please be aware that it may be necessary to contact you while your pet is with us if we need to alter the treatment plan.
Download our grass seeds and your pet's leaflet.
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