Kennel Club warns of grass seed dangers
Vets thought they might need to remove Max's eye after a grass seed became stuck.
The Kennel Club has highlighted the dangers that grass seeds pose to dogs, after a seed almost cost a dog his eye.
Max, a Hungarian vizsla, nearly had to have his eye surgically removed after a grass seed became lodged between his eye and carotid artery.
His owner, Megan Hofmann, first became aware of Max’s condition after he let out a pained yelp. Although she initially could not find anything wrong, Max wouldn’t pick up his ball or open his mouth wide.
Max was taken to a veterinary practice, where a scan revealed that a grass seed had pierced the roof of his mouth. It had then travelled upwards and become lodged between his eye and carotid artery.
The positioning of the grass seed made its extraction difficult and, after two failed surgeries, the veterinary team thought they might need to permanently remove Max’s eye.
Instead, the team chose a different technique. Using ultrasound and the strongest needle available, they were able to successfully remove the grass seed.
After surgery, Max had to stay at the practice with pain relief and antibiotics while the psychological effects subsided.
Ms Hofmann said: “A lot of people don’t know about grass seeds! They are everywhere, and he’s a dog who loves being outside and needs a lot of exercise, but we just try to avoid long grass in the summer to lessen the risk.”
The Kennel Club says that a third of its insurance claims against grass seed injuries are made in July. Seventy-six of all claims were made between July and September.
It has urged pet owners to be aware of the signs of grass seed injury. This includes shaking their head, excessive licking, and pained/uncomfortable behaviour.
Lars Mortensen, a veterinary surgeon, said: “Grass seeds may seem harmless due to their natural origin and small size and who would have thought that they could cause such problems?
‘However, once attached to the coat, mouth or other parts of the body, they have the potential to penetrate into the deeper tissues and this can result in very severe discomfort and devastating consequences in some cases.”
Image © The Kennel Club
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
