I don’t think we can complain too much about the weather so far this summer. On the whole, it’s been fine and dry. My only grumble is by the time the kids are asleep, there’s generally a slight chill in the air! It’s rarely warm enough to sit still outside but I’m being picky. Summertime with pets does pose a few problems, however. Grass seeds seem to cause no end of problems during the summer months. They get lodged in ears, in feet and can even be inhaled.

Grass seeds

Grass seeds cause intense irritation and acute pain in the ears. Luckily they can be easily removed at the surgery, usually under light sedation. Untreated, however, they can cause severe infections and chronic pain. They can also begin to affect hearing as the small barbed seeds travel further down the ear canal, through the eardrum and into the middle ear.

They can also become trapped in between toes and enter the skin causing a characteristic swelling and abscess which usually needs lancing and exploring under sedation or anaesthesia.

Possibly the most serious problem grass seeds cause though, is when they are inhaled. Spaniels seem particularly prone to this. These tend to cause chronic coughs and the seeds can even migrate through the lungs into other parts of the body causing recurrent abscesses. They can be really frustrating cases to treat as they tend to be chronic and recurrent. I would generally try and avoid areas (especially fields) with grass seeds. If unavoidable, at least check your dogs over and remove any found on returning home.

Sticks

When we think of summertime with pets, we often think about the joy of playing fetch with our pet. Many agree it is often one of life’s simple pleasures! However if done with a stick, the damage it can cause is potentially life-threatening. They either catch on their end and stand up like a javelin, causing dogs to impale themselves. They can cause wounds leaving fragments of stick inside which can lead to infections. The first stick injury I saw as a new graduate (many years ago!) went in through the dog’s mouth and came out of his skin, above his shoulder. Only last week, I examined a dog whose owner knew her pet had injured his mouth on a stick. Nothing, however, was visible until we anaesthetised him. We then found a 2cm laceration under his tongue with a cavity that stretched beyond the length of my finger and down to his larynx! The second dog was easier to fix than the first but both made a full recovery. Not all dogs are so lucky. Please don’t throw sticks as there are plenty of safe, alternative options.

Summertime with pets means the potential of heatstroke

Dogs are particularly susceptible to heat stroke, like children they are not good at regulating their body temperature. Do not exercise dogs in the heat of the day or leave them in warm rooms or cars unattended. Heat stroke kills dogs every year and it is avoidable. Dogs love the summer just as much as us but let’s keep them safe too.

Spending summertime with pets is fulfilling and a wonderful experience. Just be vigilant of everyday enjoyments which can often cause more than a headache!