Grass awns or grass seeds don’t sound terribly hazardous to your pets health.  But, these small arrow shaped seeds can result in penetrating trauma and abscess formation when stuck in the skin. During the summer and fall months, certain types of grasses produce seeds with barbs that behave similar to a fish hook, they attach easily to the hair coat and are difficult to remove. Once attached, these pesky little seeds hitch a ride, presumably to find a new place to grow. However, the barbs prevent backward movement particularly in dogs with curly or dense coats and the seeds move continuously forward until they penetrate the skin, resulting in an abscess or an infected wound under the skin. Though they most commonly affect the feet in between the toes, grass awns can attach and migrate anywhere in the body.  Occasionally they will also get in a pet’s ear canal or behind one of their eyelids. Signs of Trouble Signs of grass seed injury when the feet are affected include sudden onset of pain, limping, excess licking of a paw, or a red swelling typically found in between the toes. These wounds can be painful and difficult to heal without […]

We at Seattle Veterinary Associates wish to thank you, our bonded pet parents, for your patience and understanding during the past 12 months.  This has been a very difficult year for all of our community, challenging each of us in so many different ways. Yet, through it all we have remained fully open, ready to serve you, and steadfast in our goals for personal safety in the face of an unprecedented pandemic.   It is our mission “to make the lives of the people and their pets we serve better” each and every day.  We feel so fortunate to have accomplished this purpose with minimal health impacts upon our working teams and you, our clientele. Now, there appears to be significant hope for a return of more normal interactions in the manner of how we can provide veterinary care for your furry loved ones.  We can all see and feel it as the weeks go by and public and worker vaccinations steadily increase. The home stretch seems in view. Accordingly, SVA is planning for changes later this spring that will allow for face to face visits again once our teams are fully immunized against Covid19.  This process has already begun and […]

In Washington state, Initiative 502 legalized the sale and recreational use of small amounts of licensed and regulated marijuana-related products for adults aged 21 and over.  Regardless of its legal status, veterinarians have been aware of it as a toxicant for as long as it has been a commonly used medical and recreational substance.  Trupanion, a Seattle-based pet insurance provider reported that the number of marijuana toxicity cases in all states increased by 50% per capita from 2014 to 2015.  In April 2017, they also reported that Washington state had the highest frequency of marijuana toxicity claims per pet, closely followed by California, Colorado, Oregon, Massachusetts, and New York.  In early 2019, the ASPCA Poison Control Center observed a 765% increase in case reports from the prior year.  With many states legalizing marijuana in at least some form, this is not surprising.  Because dogs think that most things are potentially edible, they represent the majority or marijuana toxicities.  Cats are probably too busy getting high on catnip and plotting world domination.  So, what happens after your dog eats your stash?  Well, the good news is that the lethal dose of marijuana is quite high.  Be aware though that producers have […]

Getting a pandemic puppy? Already have one by now?  You are not alone, believe me.  During the past 6 months our family veterinary practice has seen a flood of these cute little fur babies arrive to help our community cope and find some joy for themselves during such stressful, challenging times.   It seems that being isolated at home and fairly restricted to indoors, many of you think it is an ideal moment and great timing to raise a puppy.  And you are absolutely right!  Puppies can brighten your life and provide so many positives at a time when we all can truly use some help getting through our days.  Dogs make superb companions, and the benefits from having a relationship with a dog cannot be overestimated. Dogs offer us a unique form of unconditional love, while giving us tremendous daily comfort, companionship and emotional support.  There is much scientific evidence that stroking a dog can provide physiological changes in our bodies including lowering our blood pressure and heart rate, plus diminishing our anxiety levels.  While there is no data to prove that dog ownership will extend your life, there is substantial proof that having a canine buddy will enhance your […]

If you are looking for ways to contribute to this movement personally, please consider checking out The Stranger’s ongoing list of events and other resources to spread the movement.