For dog owners: checking paws for grass husks

[Jeanied]

I am new to dogwalking in parks, so I didn't realize, until the dog groomer showed me, how dangerous grass seed husks are to dogs. She pulled about 10 of them out of Rosie's paws - some of them were already working their way into her skin. The stem part is very sharp and apparently the whole husk can work its way into the dog's leg, ears, nose and eyes.

So I am going to check her paw pads and her head after every run in the long grass, and pass this tip on to anyone else who may come up against the same hazard.

[teakdesk]

Checking paws and ears daily is very important even if not been near grass. All sorts of seeds, thorns, twigs, stones etc. can get into paws and ears are quickly infected if any irritant gets in.

I like to give the paws a little squeeze as well to check there is no tenderness.

A daily brush and health check each evening can quickly become a routine.

[Nicos]

I hate to remind you of this- but you also need to keep an eye out for ticks on a daily basis...

there is loads of info out on the web, but the sooner removed the lower the risk of any problems to your dog ( Lyme s disease etc)

Here is one UK site I found...
Tick Bite Prevention Week


and now we are in August..check out for harvest mites/chiggers
Harvest Mites: Causes and Treatments
Trombiculidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[dim]

fleas is the main problem now with this heat ....

our Jack russel gets the flea drops every 3-4 weeks after being shampooed with the flea shampoo .... if you don't sort it now, you will have fleas in your home and will need to use the fogger thingys to get rid of the eggs and fleas

[Two_Sheds]

I avoid walking the dogs in long grass anyway, because of ticks. They only go on mowed grass, where the main problem is discarded litter* & half-eaten snack foods. Himself ate a pot of McD ketchup one morning


* it amazes me when people complain about the odd dog poop not-picked-up, but they're unbothered by the piles & piles of human trash laying everywhere

[PyreneesPlot]

I hate to remind you of this- but you also need to keep an eye out for ticks on a daily basis...

there is loads of info out on the web, but the sooner removed the lower the risk of any problems to your dog ( Lyme s disease etc)

And check yourself for ticks too! Lyme disease is not at all nice

[Two_Sheds]

health check each evening can quickly become a routine.

yep, if you handle (pet) your dogs every day, you soon become aware of any problems: ours are usually insect bites which go nicely scabby so Mom can pick them off