CELEBRITY naturalist Chris Packham is highlighting the dangers grass seeds can pose to dogs after his pet was rushed to the vets twice.
The TV star, who lives in the New Forest, praised the quick response of Seadown vets in Hythe who treated poodle, Nancy, adding: “With better awareness of seed issues we can have healthy pets and a healthier planet.”
Seadown is also urging owners to check their pets for foreign bodies after every walk.
Ohthalmology veterinary surgeon Miroslava Palenikova, known as Mirka, explained: “Chris brought his lovely dog Nancy into the surgery with a blinking and weeping eye.
“It was not apparent immediately what the problem was but, on investigation, we were able to identify a nasty grass seed which was hidden behind the eyelid and was causing a good deal of irritation and pain.
“It all ended well because we were able to remove it quickly with only a topical anaesthetic and eye drop to numb the eye, and without any long-term damage.”
She added: “Not long after Chris’s first visit, I was a little surprised to find him returning with Nancy, but with the other eye now suffering a similar fate.
“I was amazed how quickly Chris and his partner, Charlotte, recognised the symptoms and rushed in to us, so it was again very easily removed.
“If some dog owners hesitate to bring their dog to a vet, the grass seeds can be pretty tricky to find and cause a lot of problems. In certain situations, they can enter the body and travel, requiring further diagnostic imaging such as a CT or MRI scan.”
Nancy now wears special goggles while playing in long grass to protect her eyes.
Commenting on the events, Chris said: “I was so impressed with Mirka‘s rapid determination of what was wrong and her gentle but swift removal of what proved to be a very large grass seed.
“It wasn’t an easy task but Mirka was professional and very efficient in dealing with the issue. Nancy was in the right hands!”
He added: “Knowing about the problem, we wasted no time heading back to Seadown when it happened again. Dogs might read the world through noses in ways that we can’t, but their eyesight is a sense they can’t afford to lose if it can be avoided.
“As responsible custodians of our canine friends, we should never be complacent about eye injuries. As passionate custodians of the planet we also have a duty to help our wildlife survive, especially as we’re in a biodiversity crisis.
“So, wild grasses and flowers should be common features of our gardens. With better awareness of seed issues we can have healthy pets and a healthier planet.”