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Grass Seed Time ! Grrrr


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Hi everyone :p

Last year Joey and Renae ended up costing up a fair bit at the vets for removal of grass seeds out of their ears ! (after hours too!)

We live in semi rural area, on a just over a quarter acre block.. We do try to maintain it as best as we can, but there's still a problem with the grass seeds at certain times of the year.. now being one of them ! :rofl:

I did resort to putting on their snoods after all their expensive vet trips, whenever i let them outside after that.. which we have found to be really effective..

but there's many times they need to go outside late at night or in middle of the night to do their wees, and being half asleep i forget to put them on ..

Are there any other things you do to prevent your dogs getting them ,especially in their ears.

It's hard having a dog with floppy ears at these times ..

These have been my worse type of dogs for having this problem :mad

Thank you for any help you are able to give me ! :p

Jules

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Hi Jules,

I keep on top of grass seeds by carefully trimming around the opening of my dog's ears... less fur to trap the seeds firstly. ..maybe not something that is traditionally down with Cav grooming, but might be practical at this time of year.

I slicker brush and then comb their leathers every day after their run: flip them over nad brush backwards and sideways as well, and once a week will flush their ears out with an alcohol based ear cleaner. Pour it in, massage the external base of the ear for a few seconds with your fingers, then allow the dog to have a good shake.

Only other thing is careful and close inspection every day.... not just ears, I find them between toes, in armpits, and also groins, are places they like to lodge as well. Keep them matt free as well, as grass seeds can cause matts and work their way into the skin from behind knots.

A leave in conditioner is a good idea as well.

But, I would certainly be trimming the fur right back around the ears for starters.

post-1394-1191984179_thumb.jpg

Edited by Toohey
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Thank you for that good advice Toothey ! :mad

I do clip around the ears a little bit, but might have do it more often, and more of it.. and around the opening too !

thank you for the pic to show me what you mean, it helps ! :rofl:

I know what you mean about them getting it other parts of their bodies..

I had a heeler x years ago, that got one in his paw. I didn't realize till weeks later when all this smelly grass stuff started growing out of his foot ! . It was badly infected and had to be treated at the vets.

Edited by JulesLuvsCavs
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When you flip the ear leather back, I clip very short, very close to the opening of the ear- better ear ventilation, also. As the ear then flops over, you don't see it.

I'd also clip all the fur off under the pads.

Sounds like where you live is similar to here- my poodles go bushwalking, beach etc. no problems. The slicker brush is also our friend :mad.

I'm lucky it's traditional to totally shave the paws and face on a poodle.

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Toohey, your dog is beautiful. :rofl:

Aww thanks Jaymatt. He thinks so too :mad

Jules, have you got some clippers? If so, a nice close clip... (I use a number ten)..and take it down the inner side of the leather a way. And do they grow a lot of hairs inside their ears as well? Might be a good idea to have a good plucking if you don't already :p

Edited by Toohey
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Thank you Toohey and Poodle wrangler for your advice and responses ! :rofl:

I don't have clippers, but do have a slicker brush.

I spent ages getting out tangles from under Joey's belly area yesterday (he soo hates it ! )

and i'll do some extra trimming on them on the weekend , well hubby will do most of it (he enjoys doing it) ! hehe

In the meantime i am just putting their snoods on them for when they go outside :)

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Slightly off topic - Jules where did you get snoods for your cavs? I tried to order some from petnetwork, but they have been out of stock for ages, so I need another option. Thanks.

Hi 2cavs :)

i don't think i have met you yet ? I haven't been in the CKCS breed thread for a while, must get back in there again! :rofl:

I think i got mine from Joey and Renae's breeder, she's always giving me things ! :laugh:

I've seen them at our SA cavalier fun days too for sale..

Someone on DOL used to make them , if i remember rightly? perhaps do a post in the general section about where to get them?

Perhaps also ask in the CKCS breed thread as well ....

Are you Facebook, as i have a Cavalier group on there. It's not a forum like Dol tho.

Jules

ps here is Joey with his on hehe

354749028_e7a55f7645jpgjoeysnood.jpg

Edited by JulesLuvsCavs
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:mad that snood is sooooo cute :D I was going to ask what a snood is but i don't need to now. I assume its just to protect from grass seeds or other uses?

Also is it mainly ears you have to worry about getting grass seeds?

Thanks to everyone for fur clipping ideas etc, I have a rough saint I might try it on (to an extent). She had a grass seed last year :( very $$$.

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Lately ,I've been prowling our large backyard with a vicious tool , looking like a femal serial-killer....except I'm after all the weeds that cause dog problems....parspalum (spelling?), bindies....and various prickles.

I undertand that's not possible for you....on a larger property.

I also get our tibbies clipped right back in summer....not just for the heat....but so I can be more aware of ticks and seeds & prickles stuck in their coats. I've found that it helps to keep trimming under the pads frequently & using the opportunity to feel between the pads for any foreign objects.

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  • 2 weeks later...
;) that snood is sooooo cute :eek: I was going to ask what a snood is but i don't need to now. I assume its just to protect from grass seeds or other uses?

Also is it mainly ears you have to worry about getting grass seeds?

Thanks to everyone for fur clipping ideas etc, I have a rough saint I might try it on (to an extent). She had a grass seed last year :eek: very $$$.

Sorry i never came back to respond ILDD ..

They can get them in other areas of their body as well , especially their paws :eek:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cl...;articleid=2964

Thank you everyone else for your responses and tips ;)

Edited by JulesLuvsCavs
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