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Dog with suspected grass seed in paw, likely recovery time?

48 replies

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 17:32

So noticed he was licking his paw a bit yesterday but couldn’t see anything. Today he started limping and had a sizeable lump on the top of his paw.

Took him to the vet, she couldn’t see a grass seed in it. There was a bit of clear pus draining out. So he’s had an anti inflammatory shot, started on oral antibiotics and currently has his paw wrapped up with a poultice on.

we are back at the vet tomorrow. She said if no better he might need a “procedure “ to try and find the grass seed. I’m assuming under GA and dig about?

if he doesn’t need the procedure any idea how long he will have a red lump/be limping/need a poultice on for? He’s entered in a show on Sunday and just trying to think if there’s any chance he might make it?

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NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 17:34

I’m not sure I can enter him like this. 🙈. Gutted as he’s just had a really good groom and his coat is spot on.

Dog with suspected grass seed in paw, likely recovery time?
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RunAlongDoggy · 12/08/2026 17:40

Ahhhh, Diddums!!!!! Look at that little face!!! No idea about grass seed! I have to look it up - it was not a danger I was aware of! Speedy recovery!

redboxerclub · 12/08/2026 17:44

I think Sunday is pushing it but you can’t do anything so if you can you can take him if he’s to crook you can’t. Wait and see.

sorry dogs are wildly inconvenient -looking at you DDOG- and try and kill themselves before important invents.

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 17:49

RunAlongDoggy · 12/08/2026 17:40

Ahhhh, Diddums!!!!! Look at that little face!!! No idea about grass seed! I have to look it up - it was not a danger I was aware of! Speedy recovery!

Thank you. Apparently they can migrate internally and pierce organs and kill dogs. So now I’m super worried as they haven’t actually found a seed!

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NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 17:49

redboxerclub · 12/08/2026 17:44

I think Sunday is pushing it but you can’t do anything so if you can you can take him if he’s to crook you can’t. Wait and see.

sorry dogs are wildly inconvenient -looking at you DDOG- and try and kill themselves before important invents.

They really do pick their moments. I was confident about winning best of breed as well. 😁

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ItsIn · 12/08/2026 18:28

DM’s dog had multiple procedures to find an embedded grass seed. They couldn’t find it. He kept licking and worrying his leg between these investigations. Eventually had a scan and they got it. £4000 and nearly a year after he first began to have problems. it had migrated up his leg a good way but thankfully did not threaten any organs.

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 19:51

ItsIn · 12/08/2026 18:28

DM’s dog had multiple procedures to find an embedded grass seed. They couldn’t find it. He kept licking and worrying his leg between these investigations. Eventually had a scan and they got it. £4000 and nearly a year after he first began to have problems. it had migrated up his leg a good way but thankfully did not threaten any organs.

Omg, I had no idea this could be so serious!

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redboxerclub · 12/08/2026 19:55

ItsIn · 12/08/2026 18:28

DM’s dog had multiple procedures to find an embedded grass seed. They couldn’t find it. He kept licking and worrying his leg between these investigations. Eventually had a scan and they got it. £4000 and nearly a year after he first began to have problems. it had migrated up his leg a good way but thankfully did not threaten any organs.

That is terrifying!

@NorwichMom what breed is he I need educating!?

redboxerclub · 12/08/2026 19:56

Oooh is he a Norwich terrier!

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 20:12

redboxerclub · 12/08/2026 19:56

Oooh is he a Norwich terrier!

He is indeed.

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redboxerclub · 12/08/2026 20:57

I’m so sorry you have to miss out it’s a very niche breed (as I have never heard of it) and that makes it super special to best of breed.

keeping every paw crossed that the cute lil monster recovers for Sunday!!.

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 21:04

redboxerclub · 12/08/2026 20:57

I’m so sorry you have to miss out it’s a very niche breed (as I have never heard of it) and that makes it super special to best of breed.

keeping every paw crossed that the cute lil monster recovers for Sunday!!.

Thank you. He’s won best puppy a few times and he’s qualified for crufts already so not the end of the world if we don’t make it.

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Sheep85 · 12/08/2026 21:11

I would do everything to find that grass seed. We lost a working dog the other year and so did a neighbour. My parents dog got a grass seed stuck under his chin, which was an huge hard lump, and my brothers dog got one in his paw.
Sometimes in paws they do work out a little and they can be removed by the vet.

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 21:17

I’m worried sick now. His breeder has messaged me to say it might have worked out by itself but everything online that I’ve read seems to think that won’t have happened

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DaveMinion · 12/08/2026 21:29

My last dog had to have part of his paw pad removed due to a grass seed. Evil things for dogs. It took a good few weeks for recovery.

My current puppy had eye surgery as he had a really inflamed lump on his eye and they thought it was grass seed but luckily just inflammation and he's back to normal now.

Octovent · 12/08/2026 22:08

My dog had one in her paw a month back, it didn't make it's way out so she went under, they managed to find it and she was bandaged up for a couple of weeks. As soon as that came off she was in again, with one stuck in her ear which had also damaged her ear drum. Now we think the sedation has caused some damage maybe to kidneys/liver, as she's drinking tonnes and weeing lots and we're going through tests.
Evil things, grass seeds. Tempted to turn her into a house dog in summer, the safe and cost effective method
GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

tinyspiny · 12/08/2026 22:15

My friends dog got one in his paw , treated like yours @NorwichMom , went in and they poked about in his paw couldn’t find it , eventually he got another lump near the top of his leg , had that opened up and it was in there . Took weeks and he’s a total wuss , can’t even sit in a cage at the vets and has to sit with the receptionist despite being cage trained as a puppy .

Arran2024 · 12/08/2026 22:22

I am putting my dog in the car and taking him to nearby woods for walks atm because of the grass seeds. They are everywhere. The council doesn't kill the weeds on the pavements like it used to.

My dog had one in his paw in June but thankfully the vet got it out. But we have had problems before with previous dogs.

I hope they find it. I would recommend not walking where the grass seeds are, or using boots. And check for seeds when you get home after every walk.

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 22:30

I will definitely be checking after every walk from now on. Older dog has never had one in 13 years.

Have been looking at boots and am overwhelmed by choice and reviews of people saying they do stay on/don’t stay on. Any recommendations gratefully received.

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Notadream · 12/08/2026 22:34

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 17:32

So noticed he was licking his paw a bit yesterday but couldn’t see anything. Today he started limping and had a sizeable lump on the top of his paw.

Took him to the vet, she couldn’t see a grass seed in it. There was a bit of clear pus draining out. So he’s had an anti inflammatory shot, started on oral antibiotics and currently has his paw wrapped up with a poultice on.

we are back at the vet tomorrow. She said if no better he might need a “procedure “ to try and find the grass seed. I’m assuming under GA and dig about?

if he doesn’t need the procedure any idea how long he will have a red lump/be limping/need a poultice on for? He’s entered in a show on Sunday and just trying to think if there’s any chance he might make it?

my boy is two weeks out the other side of having three of his paws investigated under sedation, he is always a chewer but I felt something in his little webs between claws and I took him to the vet. They sedated him and found one on its way in and another sitting in the web of another and a spot which looked like it had one but he’d possibly chewed/licked raw where there may have been one previously. They even gave me them back in a little sterile out to take home !!! Grass seeds are horrible because of the barbs we are in danger of making them lodged themselves even more so we do need to be vigilant and careful! Reggie was in a collar for 10 days and had some Metacam for a few days. Obviously now I’m bloody petrified every time we go out that it will happen again so I check every time we come home now. He didn't come back with a bandage just a collar which he eventually got over but he wasn’t happy to start with 😊 My Vet was telling me that they see loads of grass seed injuries this time of year and that they can be really dangerous.

Ylvamoon · 12/08/2026 23:39

We had an encounter with the evil grass seed a few weeks back. My girl started shaking her head a lot.... so took her to the vets and yes it was grass seed, lodged half way down the ear canal. Now we were very very lucky, as vet took her out the back ... and brought her back about 10 mins later with this little devil locked away!
I have been extra vigilant since! Fingers & paws are crossed that your little doggo has a lucky escape like mine.

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Dog with suspected grass seed in paw, likely recovery time?
Arran2024 · 13/08/2026 09:52

NorwichMom · 12/08/2026 22:30

I will definitely be checking after every walk from now on. Older dog has never had one in 13 years.

Have been looking at boots and am overwhelmed by choice and reviews of people saying they do stay on/don’t stay on. Any recommendations gratefully received.

Re the boits, it's trial and error I'm afraid. We had them for my boy who died a few moths ago but our other boy won't tolerate them at all. They can be tricky to keep on but you can use tape to help them stay put.

NorwichMom · 13/08/2026 10:16

Arran2024 · 13/08/2026 09:52

Re the boits, it's trial and error I'm afraid. We had them for my boy who died a few moths ago but our other boy won't tolerate them at all. They can be tricky to keep on but you can use tape to help them stay put.

Thank you. I don’t think he’d be keen at all. Just took him for a short pavement walk this morning for 5 mins and there’s so many grass seeds on the pavement.

im going to be strict with paw inspections every day now. I never knew about this risk before.

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Arran2024 · 13/08/2026 13:26

NorwichMom · 13/08/2026 10:16

Thank you. I don’t think he’d be keen at all. Just took him for a short pavement walk this morning for 5 mins and there’s so many grass seeds on the pavement.

im going to be strict with paw inspections every day now. I never knew about this risk before.

My vets have a big display about it in the waiting room and nearly all the people I see out walking the dog have had a brush with a grass seed.

It's hardest with dogs with very furry feet. I have a bernese mountain dog and it's a nightmare with his fur.

Like i said, I am putting him in the car and driving to the woods atm to avoid the nasty things.

NorwichMom · 13/08/2026 18:15

So no sign of the grass seed this evening when the poultice was removed. So he’s in tomorrow for sedation and some form of exploratory digging about. No idea what happens then if it’s not found. I mean it may have dropped out? Though ChatGPT says very unlikely as they tend to only go one way?

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