Check your dog after every spring walk, starting with the paws, ears, armpits, groin, eyes and nose, where grass seeds lodge. Run your hands through the coat and spread the toes. Watch for licking, head shaking, squinting or sneezing. A seed that has gone in, rather than just stuck on, is a job for your vet.
When is grass seed season in Perth, and why does it matter?
Mostly spring. From around September, wild grasses along verges, reserves and bushland tracks set seed and start to dry off, and the seeds keep falling into early summer. Many of them are pointed and barbed, built to catch on anything that brushes past and then work their way forward. A dog trotting through long grass is exactly what they are designed for. Most seeds just ride along on the coat and fall out. The trouble starts when one finds a soft entry point, like the skin between the toes or the ear canal, and keeps moving in.
Where do grass seeds hide on a dog?
Anywhere that fur is long, folds are tight or skin is thin. The usual spots are between the toes and under the pads, inside the ear flap and canal, in the armpits and groin, around the eyes and under the lids, and in the nostrils. Feathering on the legs, belly and tail holds them too, as do collars and harnesses. Dogs with long or fluffy coats, drop ears and feathered legs carry the most, including spaniels, setters, terriers and doodles, but any dog that walks through long or dry grass can pick one up.
How do I check my dog after a walk?
Make it a two-minute habit. Run your hands slowly from nose to tail, feeling for anything stuck or any sore spot your dog flinches from. Spread each set of toes and look between them and under the pads. Peek into the ears without poking anything inside. Lift each front leg to check the armpits, and look at the eyes and nose. A good brush-through at the end lifts loose seeds out of the coat before they settle, and our brushing guide covers how to do it without pulling. Take care with anything that looks embedded, and see the next section before you reach for tweezers.
What are the signs a seed has gone in?
A seed that has gone in rarely lets you forget it. Watch for constant paw licking or limping, swelling or a weeping lump between the toes, sudden head shaking, tilting or scratching at one ear, repeated sneezing (sometimes with a bloody nose), squinting or a red, watery eye. Because seeds can keep working beneath the skin, the sore spot sometimes appears away from where one went in.
If you see any of these, call your vet promptly. Don't dig around with tweezers or cotton buds in an ear, eye or nose: you can push a seed deeper or break it off, and what's left behind keeps travelling. We don't remove embedded seeds in the salon either. If we find one during a groom, we'll show you, and send you to your vet. The same goes for ear problems that don't settle.
How can grooming help in grass seed season?
A coat that is clean, brushed through and not matted is far easier to check and gives seeds less to grab. Mats act like Velcro, which is one more reason to stay on top of them. Trimmed feet and pads and shorter feathering also mean fewer places for a seed to snag, so a spring trim for a long-coated dog is worth asking about when you book. It won't make your dog immune, but it makes checking quicker and snagging less likely.
Our groomers look over feet, ears and coat at every appointment, and a Wellness Club hygiene visit covers paws and ears between full grooms. We groom at Jandakot and O'Connor for all sizes, and at Byford for dogs up to around 17kg, by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Since spring is also when the ground heats up, our guide to hot pavement and paws is worth a look.
Frequently asked questions
When is grass seed season in Perth?
Mostly spring, from around September to November, as wild grasses dry off and set seed. Dry patches can still hold seeds into early summer, so it pays to check after any walk through long or dry grass.
Can I pull a grass seed out myself?
If a seed is sitting loose on the coat or caught in the fur, brush or pick it out. If it is in the skin, ear, eye or nose, or you can't see all of it, leave it alone and call your vet. A broken-off seed can keep working inwards.
Which dogs are most at risk?
Dogs with long or fluffy coats, feathered legs and drop ears carry the most seeds, such as spaniels, setters, terriers and doodles. Any dog that walks through long or dry grass can pick one up, whatever the breed.
Does a shorter trim help?
It helps. Shorter feathering and trimmed paws give seeds fewer places to catch and make checking easier. It doesn't make a dog immune, so keep checking after walks. Ask your groomer about a spring trim that suits your dog's coat.
Spring trim, sorted
Book a groom before the long-grass walks start, and ask about feet and feathering.
More advice: Is my dog getting too hot on Perth pavement? · How often to clean your dog's ears · Why groomers clip matted coats