Grass Awn In Dogs

How do grass awns injure dogs.

Grass awn in dogs.

The awns of the most problematic grasses are barbed which allows the awn to ratchet itself along through the tissue. These seeds or grass awns can become lodged in pet ears between toes and under the skin. Grass awns are a danger upon contact with your dog. However grass awns can also cause much more serious health problems when they enter through the mouth or nose of a dog and migrate through the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract.

An awn is an appendage that grows from the ear of plants such as barley rye and many types of wild growing grasses. Pretty much any contact a dog has with grass awns is potentially hazardous. Grass awns can be inhaled become lodged in the ears swallowed or even just imbedded in the coat or skin. One of the most common minor emergencies we see during the summer in the mid southare grass awn foreign bodies.

Signs of foxtail or cheatgrass problems in dogs lethargy loss of appetite swelling or lump puncture hole discharge or bleeding licking chewing or pawing at the affected area limping if legs paws affected shaking head if ears affected. It often can be hard to see the embedded awn especially if you have a dog with a lot of fur and your timing in getting your dog to a veterinarian is critical. Pieces of plant material typically the awn seed penetrate the skin or are inhaled or ingested as the dog runs through cover. If a grass awn becomes embedded in your dog and an infection and abscesses develop your dog is at risk for dying if he receives no treatment.

The awns can be lodged in the ear nose and skin of your pet. The eyes of the dog get inflamed. No infections or abscesses matted hair only ear canal. The dog shakes the head scratches or rubs the ears holds his head at a slightly tilted angle between the eye eyelid.

The risk of exposure determines on where you live. Grass seeds and awns in dogs symptoms signs. The most common presentation is a draining tract between the toes. It is when they are not quickly removed by the owner or expelled by the animal that they become problematic.

Compared with the total hospital population there was an increased prevalence of grass awn problems in the springer spaniel golden retriever brittany spaniel and airedale terrier but a decreased prevalence in german shepherd dogs miniature poodles and dachshunds. Depending on where the grass awn get stuck contact symptoms can vary accordingly. Diagnosis can be difficult if the grass seed has already penetrated the skin and begun to migrate into the. When grass seeds.