Владельцы собак сталкиваются с ростом счетов за удаление колючек из травы

More on KentOnline Dog owners say they are being left with bills for hundreds of pounds amid a huge rise in cases of grass seeds getting lodged in their pets’ ears and skin. Vets are seeing increasing numbers of dogs brought into emergency surgeries after suddenly experiencing discomfort caused by foxtail seeds. Dog owner Ian Carter was left with a bill of £498 after his cockapoo Olive fell victim during a walk in Folkestone. He said his six-year-old pooch suddenly began yelping in pain and frantically shaking her head, so he took her to Grove Lodge vets in Brighton, where they live. He was then referred to their Worthing clinic for emergency surgery. He added: “Olive was clearly in discomfort and I am glad we acted immediately, but the bill was a nasty shock. “We do not know for certain where she picked it up - she had been out and about in Folkestone but equally could have picked it up in one of the parks closer to home. “We are being hyper-cautious after walks now and checking her ears, but the vet warned us cockapoos are particularly prone to grass seeds.” Dog walkers in Cozenton Park in Bloors Lane, Rainham, also echoed similar experiences. Chris Ferguson told KMTV, KentOnline’s sister TV station, that his previous pet had a “nasty” grass seed stuck in her ear, which left her in pain for a few days. He said: “It cost quite a bit of money to get it out. It was quite a big problem. “It took quite a few minutes for the vet to hook it out, and then she had a course of antibiotics and was in pain for a few days. It was not nice.” Another said their dog had suffered an infection from a lodged grass seed, which required a visit to the vet to remove it safely. A foxtail is a type of grass characterised by its dense, bushy, seed-bearing spikes that resemble a fox’s tail, such as meadow barley and wall barley. The seed clusters can get stuck to animals’ coats and burrow into their skin, and while not a threat when they are fresh, once the barbed seeds dry out, they can become dangerous. They commonly lead to irritation and abscesses, but can cause serious infections if they are inhaled or fall into an ear canal. They can also get trapped under a dog’s eyelids. Breeds with long, curly hair, such as sheepdogs and setters, are particularly at risk, as are spaniels’ ears. Vets are now warning that the hot weather and reduced grass trimming have led to more cases earlier in the year. Kylie Simons, co-owner of Swanley Veterinary Clinic, said: “I would say in the last two or three years I have definitely seen a lot more cases. “Near the vet I used to work at, a lot of councils would leave grass to grow longer rather than cutting it, which is good for the insects and the bees. “But we would have our kennels filled up with dogs every day. “I think the season probably started a bit earlier this year. Before, we would typically see cases in July, but in mid-June, we are already seeing dogs come in. “You could link that partly to changing weather, but also probably to the choice of leaving grass to grow longer, whether that’s done for cost or wildlife reasons.” Those walking their dogs in Rainham said that they are becoming more concerned about the possibility of their dogs picking up a foxtail due to the long grass. One added: “Over the winter months it is not as bad, but in the summer it is growing pretty long, which is a problem, especially for small or medium-sized dogs because they are so low down. “Ideally, I would like it to be cut down.” Grass seeds have sharp, barbed edges that allow them to travel in one direction once they penetrate the skin, and once they have burrowed, it is tricky to remove them. In severe cases, they can travel through the body and cause life-threatening infections. Kylie said: “Once they go in, they are unlikely to come out on their own, and they migrate deeper into the body and cause infections and pain.” She is advising dog owners to carefully check their pets’ paws after walks, particularly if they have been in long grass. She added: “Check between all of their toes, underneath, and between the pads, and remove them. I would also advise people to check their coats. “At this time of year, I would advise people not to be walking dogs or letting them off lead in areas with long grass. “Instead, try to maybe walk in more wooded areas or areas where the grass has been cut short.” Grass seeds are safe to remove from a pet’s fur, but not if they have been lodged deep in the skin, the throat or the ear. Specialists usually remove the seeds with anaesthetic, cameras and forceps. Agria Pet Insurance has seen an 11% year-on-year increase in grass seed claims so far this month.