Getting Grass Seeds Out Of Long Fur

[CP*]

My silly dogs went and rolled in the grass on our walk this evening. Now both of them have grass seeds embedded in their skin and fur - heaps of them. They are Shelties so searching for the seeds is a nightmare, especially in the older one who has a really thick coat.

Is there an easier way of getting them out of a double coat dog without resorting to clipping? Even bathing them tonight will be difficult as it is late. They keep struggling as I try to get them out. I have probably taken out 50 in each and I've hardly gotten anywhere.

[wolfgirl]

I have a longcoat and have to check him daily for seeds and burrs, I brush him thoroughly for 10 minutes and that seems to get all all out or loose, sorry haven't got any other ideas.

[Toohey]

You need to use a slicker brush, and brush backwards against the growth. Let the dogs have a shake and then brush again. Backwards, and forwards.

For the ones in the skin I am afraid you will have to carefully pick them out by hand.

I check my dogs every day for grass seeds, and the places I usually find the most are their armpits, groins and between the toes. Also be sure to check their genitals as if they escape into their nether regions you will have big problems. Also their ears will need careful checking and flush them out at least once a week with an alcohol based cleaner and let the dog have a good shake afterwards.

And the best tip, which may not help tonight, but think about investing in a forced air dryer as this is a great way to both examine the skin and blow away the seeds.

[Dogsfevr]

best tip avoid the park much cheaper than a vet bill or leave onlead

[pomquest]

We use either Coat Magic from Animal House or Avocado Mist from EQyss to groom our Poms. Once when one of them had a bad matt attack (I used the wrong shampoo ) the OH mangaged to get every one out with a small comb and lots of Coat Magic. It makes the hair slippery so the comb goes through it heaps easier. Time and patience wins the day!

[BC]

Layer brush with a slicker and comb every inch of their body right down to the skin. Most should comb out, but the rest you will need to pick out yourself, and then never take them to the same place again

If you dont get them all out by brushing down to the skin bit by bit it is quite a big deal when one gets infected :p

[CP*]

Well at least they wont have any lose coat after this. I'll look into the coat magic because it would be useful for thise knots behind the ears as well. I'm halfway thru the little one but I guess it will take all night. In Canberra they arent mowing around the walking paths and my dogs are no good at walking single file, plus we have no footpaths. They never go off lead at the moment - too many snakes. So I think we will be heading for the local school oval from now on.

Now I had better get stuck into the bigger one. I've mixed some aloveen with water in a spray bottle as a temporary conditioner and have two slicker brushes.

[Doggrooma]

The easiest way is a force dryer, are you near a DIY Hydrobath place?? It will blast them right out and you will be able to see much easier into the coat.

[Toohey]

I would not wet the coat or use conditioner. That will make them stick more and be harder to remove.

[Poodle wrangler]

Agree with slicker- part fur as you go and get right down to the skin.

Had a similar problem with the poodles running amok.

Other thing I've had to do was just patiently work through the coat with my fingers plucking out spikey things.

Settle down in front of TV with dog beside you.

[CP*]

Still going on picking the seeds out. Must have done at least a hundred each dog so far. But I have got a collection of DVDs to watch now. I dont know of any DIY hydrobaths in canberra. I tried a hair dryer but they dont like it, as they are already agitated from having to sit so long. I have found wetting the coat helps me run the slicker thru the coat but doesnt let me feel the seeds.

I've been going at this for 8 hours now and still probably have another 5hrs to go. It amazes me how many seeds managed to get caught in their fur for such a short time in the grass

[pomquest]

Keep going Caro....you are doing a great job . Think of all this quality time you are spending with your babies...

[InspectorRex]

Geez how did they get some many grass seeds? Many of our nature strips are not mowed and I have only ever had 1 grass seed to remove( I have Rough Colles)

Yo need to be vigilant and do an full onm dailu check if you continue to walk them where you are. Personally I would be sussing out an area where the grass have been mowed and chucking the dogs in the car and taking them there.Sure it may take a little longer to exercise them but s..t look how long you have spent so far picking out gras seeds

I never walk my Collies in areas where the grass in long, never.

[Diva]

Still going on picking the seeds out. Must have done at least a hundred each dog so far. But I have got a collection of DVDs to watch now. I dont know of any DIY hydrobaths in canberra. I tried a hair dryer but they dont like it, as they are already agitated from having to sit so long.

There is a DYI hydrobath place in Hume, dog world I think it's called. I don't use it but know several people who do and they have force dryers.

On the up side, all the grass verges and unwatered parks were mowed here the other day, maybe they are on their way to your suburb next. The grass was unusually high because of the summer rain and I'd taken a lot of my usual walking routes off the agenda because of grass seeds and snake paranoia, all back to normal now.

[CP*]

Finally all done!!! :D

My Boy was sitting funny this morning so I checked his anus and sure enough two had even made their way onto the outside of that. Now that was a messy job. They were already starting to leave little red welts by yesterday evening. Both of them have been very naughty today - payback I think.

I still dont know how they managed to get all those grass seeds. I am grooming my boy every day as he is shedding so they can only have been from friday. It was the first time we went to that track. I've been driving to different places because the little bit of mowed area behind my place is where my little girl was attacked before xmas.

Diva I guess if they are mowing again it means the urban services people are back so we might actually be able to walk locally again and avoid grass seeds, snakes and rabid cattle dogs.

Thanks all for the suggestions.