Copyright birminghammail
A devastated dog owner has shared a vital health alert after her beloved pet was left battling for life in intensive care following an ordinary walk - a fight he would tragically lose. Ellie, still mourning the loss of her treasured puppy, Ralph, turned to TikTok to highlight the perils of grass seeds. Prior to the one year old's premature death, Ellie shared footage showing the Springer Spaniel as "happy, playful and full of life", joyfully spending time splashing in rivers, fields and on the beach. Yet everything transformed for Ralph when she observed he was exhibiting a range of concerning symptoms at home. "I can't believe I'm writing this and my heart is broken," Ellie expressed, reports the Mirror . "This weekend, after weeks of our boy seeming withdrawn/sad which we thought was due to stomach upset, Ralph started to struggle to breathe." In desperation, Ellie raced Ralph to the emergency vets, where they conducted a chest X-ray, discovering his small body was flooded with bacterial fluid surrounding his heart. "They believe this is due to a foreign body, most likely a grass seed," Ellie warned, before imploring other dog owners to "check" their furry companions meticulously after spending time outdoors. "This post is to spread awareness to check your dogs after walks, especially in the summer time," she continued. "These little seeds from grass/wheat fields can get into the body via ears, nose and mouth causing serious internal damage. "We learnt this the hard way and our puppy dog is in intensive care right down being pumped with antibiotics." Ellie disclosed that Ralph would require a CT scan to locate the embedded seed. "We do not know where it is located but lungs are suspected due to the severity of infection and fluid," she explained. "Ralph nearly suffocated it was that bad and we had absolutely no idea this was building up inside." Faced with escalating veterinary costs, Ellie established a fundraiser, but heartbreakingly it proved futile. Merely five days afterwards, she shared a heartbreaking announcement on TikTok confirming Ralph's death. "Still wondering why heaven needed you more than I did," she penned beside photographs of joyful moments they shared. "My sweet boy, hope you knew how much I loved you." The RSPCA has published its own caution regarding grass seeds on its website. It declares: "Grass seeds are pointed seeds that can cause problems for our pets by getting stuck in paws, ears or anywhere else on the pet's body. "There have been some cases where the grass seeds can migrate through the body and even end up in the chest cavity causing serious complications." It additionally clarifies: "Depending on where the grass seed is on the body your pet may react in different ways. "Commonly we see small fluid filled bumps appearing between the toes which can often be the infection and inflammation around a grass seed or it's tract. "With ear foreign bodies we will normally see head shaking or a head tilt. "Sometimes if the animal has shook their head a lot you may notice a swelling in the ear flap which is known as an aural haematoma. "For foreign bodies in eyes the first sign is normally blinking, some discharge or holding the eye closed. "The best course of action is to check your pet thoroughly daily or after every walk for dogs. "Check between paws and monitor for any abnormal signs. "There is more potential for damage the longer a grass seed is left. "If you notice anything abnormal then call your vet for an appointment."
