Copyright dailyrecord
A dog owner has issued a vital health warning after her pet became unwell following a walk, leaving the puppy fighting for his life in intensive care - a battle he would sadly go on to lose. Grieving Ellie took to TikTok following the death of her beloved pooch, Ralph, to educate others on the perils of grass seeds . Prior to Ralph's passing, Ellie shared a video revealing that her one-year old Springer Spaniel had been "happy, playful and full of life", energetically enjoying time playing in rivers, fields and the beach. However, that all changed after she noticed he had developed a number of alarming symptoms at home . Cannot even believe I’m writing this and my heart is broken," Ellie said. "This weekend after weeks of our boy seeming withdrawn/sad which we thought was down to stomach upset, Ralph started to struggle to breathe." Ellie subsequently rushed Ralph to the emergency vets, who carried out a chest X-ray, showing his little body was full of bacterial fluid surrounding his heart. "They believe this is due to a foreign body, most likely a grass seed," Ellie warned, before encouraging other dog owners to "check" their furry friends over after periods 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 went on to reveal that Ralph would also require a CT scan in a bid to locate the embedded object. "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." As a consequence, Ellie set up a fundraiser due to her escalating vet bills, but devastatingly it proved in vain. Then five days later, she returned to TikTok with a follow-up clip informing her followers that she'd lost Ralph. "Still wondering why heaven needed you more than I did," she wrote alongside images of the pair in happier times. "My sweet boy, hope you knew how much I loved you." The RSPCA issues its own warning regarding grass seeds online, meanwhile. It advises: "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 goes on to explain: "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."
