Grass Awn In Dogs

But if the seeds have penetrated the skin or have been inhaled or ingested usually pain inflammation and swelling will result.

Grass awn in dogs.

An awn is a hairy or bristle like appendage growing from the ear or flower of barley rye and many types of widely growing grasses. The signs associated with grass seeds and awns depend upon the location of the grass seed. Each of these sites is a mere port of entry for these sturdy seeds. The problem with grass awns is that they are difficult to be located.

The three most common hazards of foxtails to dogs are these. If the seeds are just tangled in the fur only matting of the hair coat may be seen. The height of many dogs lines up well with the location of the seed pods on the grasses and contact with the grass allows the sharp lightweight grass awns to stick to the dog. The seeds of the nasty foxtail grass seem to have a special affinity for invading dogs bodies.

Once inside they start a relentless crawl forward traveling deeper into a dog. They get sniffed into dog noses work their way into dog ears and lodge between dog toes. 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. Grass awns are deadly dangerous for your dog.

Grass awns from weeds like cheatgrass and foxtail first become attached to a dog s coat while running or walking through these tall grasses. The most common presentation is a draining tract between the toes. If grass awns are not removed in a timely fashion they will lead to the formation of painful abscesses which need regular drainage of fluids.