Grass Awn Project

This can cause discharge swelling increased tear production conjunctivitis and corneal ulceration.

Grass awn project.

An informed owner can mean the difference between life and death for a dog that has acquired a plant material borne infection. Look for signs of drought stress in your grass wilting dull color and grass that doesn t spring back after you walk on it. The wrong amount of water will encourage moss growth and discourage the growth of grass. These weedy grasses form seed pods that dry out and scatter in the summer.

The grass awn project started when i had a field bred english springer spaniel that suffered recurring bouts of unexplained illness approximately every three months for almost a year. These grasses can be found throughout north america and are especially prevalent in the western united states. Use a rain gauge to monitor the amount of water your lawn gets. Tai s illness finally culminated in a pyothorax that required chest drains at the university of wisconsin madison veterinary hospital.

Grass awns are the seed pods of certain tall grasses that grow as invasive weeds. This creates thatch which is a thin layer of dead and decomposing grass between growing soil. Her surgery involved removing a piece of a back muscle approximately 1 x 3 a grass awn was found and removed in this area and removal of the abscess which necessitated removal of two ribs and insertion of a piece of mesh to close the abdominal wall. Common examples of these weeds include foxtail and cheatgrass.

The grass awn can become lodged in the tear ducts under the main eyelids or behind the third eyelid. Grass awns can become ocular foreign bodies as well. Lawn aeration explained over time grass and soil can become compressed and compacted. As thatch grows it prevents air water and fertilizer from getting to the roots of your grass.

The signs are usually unilateral but both eyes can become infected at the same time. The essfta established the grass awn committee in 2007 to investigate the problem in hopes of finding ways to mitigate the potential for these infections and to educate dog owners. June 27 2011 by the grass awn project 1 comment new nafc fc afc cody cut a lean grade grady owned and handled by chad baker won the 2011 national amateur retriever championship which concluded june 25 in ronan montana.