We have had a few unusual cases in the last week involving fur and also grass seeds. 

Pippi a 5 year old Pomeranian was brought in by her very concerned owner as she had woken up not being able to weight bear on her left front leg, Closer examination revealed that Pippi had got her dew claw (the little claw on the inside of the front leg like a thumb) caught in her very thick fur and was unable to put her leg down. This was great news as it was super easy to fix and she was running around normally 5 mins later. Mum booked her in to have a groom and we cut her nails for her to prevent this happening again but I must say I haven’t ever seen it in 20 years! 

Molly got lots of grass seeds caught in her under arm area about a month ago and her owner took her to another vet to get them removed on holiday. Now she has a weepy wound and small lump- we suspect a grass seed has burrowed into her skin and is sitting there causing a foreign body reaction. We needed to anaethetise Molly to remove this surgically and then send her home on antibiotics. 

We have also had 3 cats come in with a weepy eye and holding the eye partially closed and have found little barley grass awns stuck up under their eyelids. This would be very painful and they don’t usually come out by themselves so if you see any animal with a painful weeping or mucky eye please bring it in to be checked. 

We recommend at this time of year that all the long haired dogs get their feet clipped short. Between the toes is the most common place we find grass seeds embedded in the skin and they can travel quite a long way up the dogs leg if left and not treated. (West Highland White terriers, Poodles and their crosses, Schnauzers and their crosses and Soft Coated Wheaten terriers seem especially prone to this)Check your dogs feet every time they walk in grass.