Creating the perfect dog-friendly garden

Creating a beautiful outdoor area which also keeps your pooch happy, healthy and safe doesn’t have to be a challenge. But understanding the dangers of grass seed for dogs is important for outdoor adventures.

Use dog-friendly grass seed

Dogs can be tough on our gardens, digging up flower beds and damaging the grass. It can be tempting to try and fix our lawns with grass seed to help bring it back to life. However, traditional grass seed is definitely something to avoid for pet owners, as it can be extremely harmful to dogs. 

But all hope is not lost. Using dog-friendly grass seed can allow you to spruce up your lawn without affecting your precious pooch. 

Why is grass seed dangerous to dogs?

As harmless as grass seed is to humans, it’s a different story for our canine friends. The sharp bristles at the end of long grasses are shaped like arrows or fishing hooks, making it easy to penetrate a dog’s fur. This can leave your pup vulnerable in the garden, at a park, or while out on a walk.

Lawn enhancers and grass seed may include weed-killing chemicals, which can harm your dog. Grass seed in dogs can also carry bacteria, leading to infections and abscesses.

Let’s take a look at some ways grass seed can potentially affect dogs.

Grass seeds stuck in dogs’ paws

Grass seeds can lodge in a dog’s paws as they trot through areas with long or dry grass. The sharp points and barbs of the grass seeds cause pain and irritation for your pup. 

Symptoms of grass seeds in dogs’ paws include:

• Lameness when they walk
• Persistent licking or chewing of the paws
• Discharge with blood or pus from the affected area
• Swelling (if the grass seed is already in the skin).

If a grass seed is trapped just beneath the skin, your vet may be able to remove it with tweezers.

Grass seeds stuck in dogs’ airways

Loose grass seeds can enter through your dog’s mouth when they inhale or pant. They can also enter  through their nose when they sniff grass.

Symptoms of grass seeds in a dog’s airways include:

• Intense sneezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Pawing at the face
• Discharge from the nose 
• Rubbing the nose and/or face on the floor or furniture

If the grass seed has made its way into the body, your vet may sedate your dog and remove it via an endoscope and tiny ‘claws’. 

Grass seeds stuck in dogs’ ears

Grass seeds can enter your dog’s ear canal, funnelled by the feathery hair surrounding the ears. The seeds can rest right against their delicate eardrum, causing discomfort.

Symptoms of grass seeds in dogs’ ears include:

• Head shaking
• Pawing or scratching at the ear
• Holding their head to one side

Your vet may be able to remove grass seed from your dog’s ear via sedation and forceps.

What happens if my dog eats grass seed?

If your dog eats grass seed, they may digest it as normal and experience no problems. But due to its sharp structure, grass seed can become lodged in your dog’s throat or pierce the digestive tract.

If this occurs, your dog’s behaviour might start to change. Look out for coughing, vomiting or loss of appetite. If these symptoms occur, seek advice from a vet. They may be able to sedate your dog, remove the seed and prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

How to prevent grass seed from harming your dog

You can protect your dog from being harmed by a grass seed by:

• Inspecting your dog’s fur, ears, paws and nose for any signs of grass seeds after a walk and removing any seeds right away, or giving them a thorough bath.
• Keeping the fur around your dog’s paws and ears short to reduce the chances of seeds getting trapped.
• Avoiding areas with long grasses and other seed-bearing plants when they’re in seed – this is usually towards the end of summer, from July to September.

Using dog-friendly grass seed on your lawn at home can keep troubles at bay. Simply search online for specific dog-friendly brands. You can also check the details on the grass seed packets for any precautions about keeping out of reach of your dog.

Provide shade and shelter

It can be easy for dogs to overheat during summer, especially after long walks without regular rest stops. Planting trees and shrubs in your garden can provide natural, shady spots, perfect for letting your pup cool down.

You could also consider buying an outdoor dog kennel, which is a great space for your dog to get some much-needed peace and quiet. Kennels also protect your pooch from the unpredictable Great British weather.

Only have dog-friendly plants

To help your dog feel at ease and have fun, it’s important to create a stimulating environment. Just like us, dogs thrive among different sights, sounds and scents, so the more varied the plants, the better.

Trees and plants play a huge part in bringing our gardens to life. But before you hit the garden centre, it’s important to find out which are safe for our beloved four-legged friends to be around. There are a range of dog friendly plants available, which will brighten up your garden in no time. These include:

• African Daisies
• Camellias
• Daylilies
• Fuchsias
• Garden Marigolds 
• Magnolia Bushes
• Sunflowers

Keep your garden safe and secure

No matter how big or small, it’s really important to make sure your garden is as secure as possible. Dogs can jump surprisingly high and squeeze through the smallest of gaps in fences if they fancy an unexpected adventure, so preparation is key.

Installing a dog-proof fence is a great place to start. Usually over 6ft tall, without any gaps or cracks, a dog-proof fence will also be fitted into the ground, to ensure there are no gaps that your pet can burrow under.

Make sure your gate also has a proper lock, which will add another level of security, protecting your pup from intruders. These extra measures might be popular with the postman too!

Looking for other safety measures? Find more dog-proofing tips for the home here.

Use dog-proof bins

Dogs can be attracted to bins, especially if they can smell last night’s takeaway or Sunday lunch leftovers. This not only causes a mess but can also be harmful to them if they find sharp cans, glass, chicken bones or toxic substances such as bleach. 

Compost bins can also cause dogs harm if the food inside is poisonous to them. Consider keeping your bins in a separate place, like a shed where your four-legged friends can’t reach them.

Use pet-safe pest control

Flower beds and patios are the ideal place for slimy pests to invade. After hibernating in the winter, slugs and snails resurface in the warmer weather, getting into every nook and cranny. They’re well known for carrying harmful parasites, which can cause serious health issues to dogs. 

Traditional pest control products contain an ingredient that’s toxic to pets, especially dogs. There are now several pet-friendly pest control solutions available, which is great news for pet owners. To prevent your pup from coming into contact with pests, tidy away their toys and store in a slug-proof box at night. Regularly washing any outdoor dog bowls and toys can also prevent your pet from these harmful pests.

These garden ideas for dogs will help you to create the perfect environment to suit you and your pooch. And if you minimise grass seed risk in your dog, you can keep them happy, healthy and, most importantly, safe.

Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance

Despite your best efforts, your dog can still fall ill from grass seed or have an accident in the garden. Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance can help to cover the cost of treatment, vet fees and more. 

Protect your rambunctious pup with our dog insurance and choose a level of cover that suits you best – from lifetime to maximum benefit or time-limited. 
Please note that we won't cover any pre-existing conditions and that terms, conditions, excesses, exclusions and limitations apply.